Education Barriers for Adult Students and Job Seekers

Lifelong learning and the power of learning is key to an individual's success in the workplace. So when education barriers for adult students and job seekers exist, we all lose.

With is us Dr. Phyllis Cummins, Senior Research Scholar at Miami University's Scripps Gerontology Center. The Center has a reputation as a strong partner and supporter of programs for older adults throughout Ohio. She helps us dive into the issues and barriers she has researched and any successful trends.

Historically, it's always been more difficult for older workers to enter the job market. Early in 2020, and now exiting the pandemic, employers are stating they can't find qualified workers, when so many older adults want to stay employed.

Ohio's economy can't continue to grow without a trained and educated workforce. But our educational systems seem to prevent Ohioans from workforce training. Partly because financial aid doesn't apply to adult and part-time students. And there is less flexibility in courses that are lock-step or rigid in scheduling. And campuses are less adult student friendly.

What is needed, in part, is "one-stop" shopping with continued education. That is, one place to go for information on all programs in Ohio. Plus better visibility and information on the direct link of education to better jobs. And lastly, financial aid for with credit and non-credit courses.

Dr. Cummins gives us some good news on information and examples of successful programs in Ohio as well. One program, as an example, is called Age-Friendly University. Two exist in Ohio, specifically, at Miami University and University of Akron. These aren't what are commonly called "Program 60." These are for workforce training.

Resources we mentioned in this podcast can be found here.

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.