Training the Older Workers: Pathways and Pitfalls

Abstract

The need to remain current with updated skills continues as a challenge for adults and older adult workers. Learning new information and skills to keep abreast with changes in everyday activities and in the workplace is a lifelong challenge. In this chapter, approaches to lifelong learning and training over the last six decades are reviewed. Theories of lifelong learning are also reviewed as well as major national studies of older worker attitudes regarding employment and training. Overall, current research on training indicates that older workers can obtain successful outcomes when well-designed training approaches are used. Training design, motivation, and resilience are critical pathways for optimizing training outcomes. Task analysis also continues to be an important component of the design of training programs as it forms the basis for understanding the demands inherent in activities and the requisite skills. The importance of the employees’ self-initiated behaviors and a supportive organizational settings are also significantly important to education and training over a worker’s lifespan.