Tight Job Market Less Friendly To Those With Minimal English Skills
Finding employment in today’s job market is tough. If you’re over 55, it gets tougher. Throw in limited English-language proficiency and it’s a nightmare. “People are in very dire straits,” said Joan Cirillo, executive director of Operation ABLE — a network that helps older workers train for and find employment in Chicago and Boston — “We’re just a bloodbath of downsizing here.”
Many other Chicago placement agencies and caseworkers agreed. They say it has become increasingly difficult to find jobs for workers over 55, especially those who have limited English-language skills. Those agencies are now stressing the importance of skill training and language tutoring for those who need it.
