Phillip Doerr takes on the plight of the over-55 job-seeker as a Vista volunteer.

Phillip Doerr sees a long list of marketable traits when he looks at the average older worker.

A good work ethic. A high level of workplace maturity. A near-perfect work attendance record. Scheduling flexibility. A commitment to the community.

Doerr is on a mission to get area employees – and seniors themselves – to see the older worker, those at least 55 and over, that way.

The former owner of a small carpet manufacturing company in Lisbon and a resident of Mechanic Falls, Doerr was sworn in as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer in January. He’s been working out of East Wilton’s Western Maine Community Action Program office ever since.

Doerr is one of 30 Vista volunteers throughout the state in a Senior $ense program. The goal is to develop financial, employment and consumer counseling services and resources for seniors living in poverty.

With a focus on Franklin County but extending outward to Oxford and Androscoggin counties, his goal is to lay down a system that brings resources (employers) and customers (the older worker) together.

It’s a program they believe is much-needed in a predominately poor and rural state with the seventh-oldest population in the nation.

Dealing with obstacles

Doerr will serve for one year, after which the Senior $ense program will continue for an additional two years.

During that time, there is a lot of work to be done.

Developing a presentation to educate employers about the value of the older worker and what employers can do to attract older workers tops the list.

As a former business owner himself, Doerr says he understands the employers’ concern for the bottom line. Despite common conception, hiring older workers can help keep that bottom line low.

And as manufacturing plants around Franklin County close up shop, letting go of hundreds of workers who are in sight of retirement, Doerr’s work takes on more importance.

Doerr notes that there are many obstacles to overcome, including a limited transportation system in the area that leaves some seniors stranded, age discrimination and a dwindling job market.

Many older people have the experience that was needed to get a job in Franklin County in the past, like the ability to make toothpicks or shoes, but lack the training and education needed to take on the jobs of the future, many of which center around technology.

Matching skills to jobs

Doerr plans to establish training opportunities through the CareerCenter in East Wilton that match up with the skills needed for the jobs that are out there. More important, he needs to find a sure way to encourage seniors to sign up.

In the not so distant future, the labor pool will be dominated by older workers, explained Trish Ohler, of Western Maine Community Action. It’s important to provide them with the needed skills and support to keep them in the workforce pool, she says.

“We need to keep everyone who is interested in work employed to their highest potential,” says Ohler.

Doerr wants to see results.

But his job is to develop systems that will work in the long run for everyone, not just for now and not just for one worker.

“We are going to do what’s necessary to get the job done. I came into this position to have an effect,” Doerr said.

“I want to see mature workers going into the CareerCenter and coming out with job opportunities. I want to see older workers get the training they need to meet the demands. And, I want to see an increase in the resources employers need to meet the needs of older workers.”

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