KEY POINTS:
With recruitment issues looking set to dog the New Zealand hospitality and travel industry landscape for some time to come, TMS Asia-Pacific has pointed employers towards what it says represents one of the best available sources of candidates for years to come the Baby Boomers.
Adele Holmes from TMS New Zealand said huge effort had been channeled into understanding the Gen Y factor and how to best attract and retain employees from the younger end of town.
But employers would also do well to address the upper end of the age scale and in particular the over 50s, she said.
"We have often said it is time for organisations to become more flexible in their approach and look beyond candidates starting out in their careers as the only source of potential talent," she said.
"The Boomers represent one of the best sources of available candidates for years to come."
Ms Holmes said that while overall the industry still leaned heavily towards recruiting younger staff, some employers were in fact beginning to see the light and had begun actively seeking to recruit older employees.
"Truth be told, the over 50s are as keen as mustard to get on with the job. In many cases they offer more experience than younger colleagues and they are always ready to learn a new skill."
