Older Adult Employment

Having older adults in the workforce benefits the individual, businesses, and the community as a whole. Their skills, knowledge, and experience are irreplaceable. Not only are multigenerational teams proven to be some of the highest performing, but older adults are critical for training and mentoring younger workers.

The Department for the Aging (DFTA) has three programs that support connecting older adults to employment:

Senior Employment Services Unit (SESU) provides older adults 55 years or older with training and assistance in finding a variety of employment opportunities.
Silver Stars offers retirees from NYC government agencies part-time, temporary work assignments.
ReServe connects retirees 50 years or older to part-time positions that allow them to remain active and serve their community.

Senior Employment Services

DFTA's annual senior employment job fair.

The Department for the Aging's Senior Employment Services Unit (SESU) is a part of the federal Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). SESU has decades of experience placing older adults in jobs in data processing, administrative work, customer service, security services, airport services, home care, and other fields.

Participants must:

Be 55 years or older
Live in the five boroughs
Be unemployed
Have a family income of no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level
Be willing to learn new skills
Commit to actively seeking employment

SESU prepares participants for employment through classes on computers, customer service, job-search techniques, resume-writing, and interviewing.

SESU also offers on-the-job training opportunities through placements at government agencies and nonprofits throughout the City.

Participants will have opportunities to participate in job fairs, workshops and meet with potential employers. Participants will work with job developers to secure permanent employment.

Get Involved!

Applicants

If you are interested in applying, complete the Senior Employment Interest Form.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the City of New York requires all participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID.

Employers

Employers who are interested in partnering with SESU and hiring participants can provide their contact information by completing the Employer Interest Form.

For more information, call 212-602-6958 or 311 and ask for senior employment services. SESU is an equal opportunity employer.

Silver Stars

Silver Stars is a new program designed for retired New York City employees. The program creates opportunities for City retirees to work part-time while collecting their City pension.*

Retirees help City agencies meet business needs by working on project-based assignments and support organizational growth by sharing their knowledge and experience with newer employees – without the demands of traditional, full-time employment.

*Interested applicants should contact their retirement system to verify that participation in the Silver Stars Program will not affect their pension benefits.

Eligibility

Fully retired from City employment;
Receiving a pension from a City retirement system;
Have no remaining sick or vacation balance;
A resident of New York City (unless the job posting specifies otherwise)

Duration of Placements

Silver Stars placements are temporary, project-based positions that are typically limited to a year. The length of the placement is determined by the agency’s business needs.

Compensation

Individual agencies determine salary. Review the job posting for additional information.

Information Sessions

To learn more and participate in the Silver Stars program, register here to attend one of our upcoming information sessions.

Monday, October 3rd at 11:00 am
Friday, October 21st at 11:00 am
Monday, October 31st at 11:00 am
Thursday, November 10th at 11:00 am
Monday, November 14th at 5:00 pm
Monday, November 21st at 11:00 pm

ReServe

ReServe, Inc. matches retirees age 50 years and older who want to work part-time for minimum wage with public service agencies, non-profits, and a few for-profit organizations. “ReServists” are placed in meaningful assignments, ranging from 10 to 20 hours a week. They meet new people, gain skills, provide professional mentorship and enhance the social impact of important community organizations. They may find themselves applying their experience and expertise at organizations that otherwise might not be able to afford such accomplished talent. ReServists come from an array of professional backgrounds, including social work, law, marketing, human resources, health care, education, retail, finance, trade, and military.

For more information, please complete the Senior Employment Interest Form.