By George Anderson
Home Depot and the AARP have agreed on a deal that will put the senior's organization to work recruiting and training workers over 55 to work in the home improvement products retailer's stores.
"We have a need for qualified employees. We're looking for people who have the experience, the skills, the knowledge and the passion," said Dennis Donovan, Home Depot's executive vice president for human resources.
Jim Seith of the AARP said demographic trends makes this a necessary move for all businesses, not just Home Depot. "There's going to be a worker shortage, and mature workers are going to be a solution to that problem. Home Depot figured that out."
Moderator's Comment: Will the deal with the AARP give Home Depot a competitive edge in the market over Lowe's and others?
According to a Wall Street Journal piece, Home Depot figures to have 135,000 positions to fill this year due to job creation and turnover. The company is looking to hire part and full-timers with pay between $7 and $20 depending on experience and skill level.- George Anderson - Moderator