McDonald's and AARP Team Up to Fill Jobs

Restaurant will post thousands of openings on AARP's website

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By:

Kenneth Terrell

Published April 25, 2019

McDonald's is hungry to hire, and they're looking for older workers to fill job openings in their restaurants and offices across the country.

The fast-food giant is collaborating with AARP to help it connect with the older adults it hopes can fill some 250,000 summer jobs available nationwide. McDonald's this week announced it will post all of its U.S. job openings on the AARP Job Board and that it also has signed the advocacy organization's Employer Pledge, in which companies acknowledge that they value the experience older workers bring to the workplace.

"For the first time ever, five generations are now working together under the Arches,” says Melissa Kersey, McDonald's U.S. chief people officer. “We're looking to position McDonald's as a place where people at every stage of working life can see themselves grow and thrive while bringing stability and a different perspective that everyone can learn from."

McDonald's joins more than 1,000 other employers who have signed AARP's pledge to commit to ensure that workers of all ages are given real opportunities.

"We're thrilled that McDonald's has signed AARP's Employer Pledge,” says Susan Weinstock, AARP's vice president for financial resilience. “We know that employees and employers across all industries succeed when they remain committed in words and in action to hiring and maintaining an age-diverse workforce. Integrating these workers with their younger staff can often bring unexpected benefits.”

In addition to posting its jobs on the AARP Job Board, McDonald's also is working with AARP Foundation's Senior Community Service Employment Program and Back To Work 50+ workforce development programs to start a pilot program to help older adults return to work after they have been out of the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities or for other reasons. The program will start in five states — Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina — before rolling out nationwide this summer.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults ages 55 and older are the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. By 2024, this group of 41 million Americans will represent 24.8 percent of the civilian labor force. The nation's low unemployment rate and an appreciation for the maturity and professionalism of workers ages 50 and over are among the reasons why companies are turning to older adults to fill their employment needs.

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