Burton Loewen Is Regional Chair Of The ThirdQuarter Program

If you are 50-plus and want to use the knowledge and essential skills you've learned over the course of your life time, ThirdQuarter is a program that can assist you with that.

ThirdQuarter, is a national pilot project that matches workers in the so-called 'third quarter' of their lives with businesses and organizations.

Burton Loewen is Regional Coordinator for the Steinbach area.  Loewen says, "ThirdQuarter reconnects 50-plus year old people who are either under-employed or unemployed, back into the market place.  The second idea behind the program is to work with employers to show them that their is a viable working force out there that can meet the their need for skilled workers.".  Loewen notes there are about 126 employers who have signed on to the program.  About one third of those have posted on to the website.  

According to the National Seniors council, in 2009, 13.9% of the population was 65 or over.  It is projected that by 2036, nearly one in four Canadians will be a senior.  This demographic shift will impact the economy and labour force significantly.  As more and more people leave the work force, businesses may also suffer because of the labour shortages, reduced productivity levels, losses of experienced and skilled employees.  Loewen says, "Businesses are starting to become aware of this shift and are therefore looking to the ThirdQuarter generation to employ."

In an October 2011 written report by the National Seniors Council, some suggestions for action are as follows:

-The Government could develop and implement a comprehensive workforce aging strategy.

-Establish a working group or centre of expertise that works to identify labour and skill shortages and proactively seeks seniors and near seniors from developed pools to address shortages. This initiative could be modeled off of the Diversity Talent Pool developed by the Public Service Commission in Nova Scotia.

-Explore a range of career transition, training and mentorship supports for older workers.

-Engage employers through the development of a compendium of successful recruitment and retention strategies, such as training programs and flexible human resource practices, and resources for employers.

-Develop an Age-Friendly Workplaces initiative featuring partnerships between all levels of government and employers to provide information and planning support, as well as recognition, for employers to adopt age-friendly workplace measures."

Loewen says, he is honoured to be part of the ThirdQuarter program.  

If you would like more information about the ThirdQuarter program, go to www.thirdquarter.ca