Maryland Department of Aging Message from Secretary Carmel Roques
People are living longer and healthier, and older people are becoming a larger share of Maryland’s total population. Currently, 1 in 4 people are 50 years and older. By 2050, 1 in 3 people will make up the 50+ population.
As the number of consumers, workers, caregivers, and volunteers continues to climb, Maryland benefits by encouraging older workers to stay in the workforce longer. Today's 50+ workforce is tomorrow's 60+ workforce, and this demographic offers tremendous value to Maryland’s economic landscape.
Marylanders aged 50 and older contributed 38% of our state’s taxes and 39% of the state’s GDP in 2018 – percentages expected to increase to 42% and 43% respectively by 2050. That's about $487 billion the 50+ population will contribute to the state's GDP in 2050, accounting for 60% of all money spent in Maryland, according to the AARP Longevity Economy Outlook for Maryland.
In a few short years, older workers will represent more than a quarter of our labor force, bringing much-needed experience, emotional intelligence, and generational diversity to our workplaces. Despite these benefits, societal age discrimination continues to stifle economic growth and impact the overall health and well-being of older people.
To address these challenges and maximize the benefits and opportunities of an aging society, the Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) is working to create and implement an actionable multisector plan on aging, Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM), with a goal of promoting an age-inclusive workforce.
If you value a strong and effective labor force, please provide your input on the current state of age inclusion, sentiments toward intergenerational teams, and the experiences of workers as it relates to age by filling out this survey from the Center for Workforce Inclusion. To learn more about LRM and our department's epic goals, go to LRM.Maryland.Gov.
Lily in the rain, Kentlands Photowalk, Gaithersburg, MD USA IMG 4506
Canon PowerShot G11 Camera, f/4.5, 1/160 sec., ISO-500, 30 mm, No Flash
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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