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

• Home
  Depot seeks workers over the age of 50 for new jobs – Associated Press/NJ.com
  
• AARP
  Is to Recruit Older Workers For Home Depot – Wall Street Journal (subscription
  required)