Bringing generations together in a company is the key to success.

People 50+ are not "silvers"!

During the conference, experts and managers who work with different generations on a daily basis and are able to make optimal use of both the energy of the Zeteks and the knowledge and experience of older generations shared their experiences about the potential of multi-generational teams, creating such teams and managing them.

Our activities concern people aged 50 and a little older, i.e. Generation X, who will remain in the labor market for about another 10-15 years. For unknown reasons, this group remains invisible to employers. They are commonly called “silvers”. We avoid this label because the distinguishing criterion here is hair color. However, this characteristic is so insignificant when it comes to a person and an employee. The people we are talking about today cannot return to the labor market once they have left it. They are also overlooked by legislators when designing the latest instruments. However, we hope that this will change soon.

Ewa Dziekańska-Budniak from the Office of Economic Development

Potential in the house of generations

As Jakub Mazur, vice-president of Wrocław, said during the inauguration of the meeting, unemployment in the capital of Lower Silesia is currently 1.7 percent. Therefore, there is a constant need for employees in very different industries and many specializations. Hence, there is a great need to utilize the potential of slightly older people - their experience, calmness and stability.

In Wrocław, we still have a high demand on the labor market. That is why we see potential in combining experience and knowledge with the new energy of the generation that is just entering the market. Those who work with older colleagues on a daily basis know that this is an invaluable asset that translates into an increase in the value of companies and institutions.

Jakub Mazur

Entrepreneurs can count on support

According to Rafał Niewiadomski, director of the District Labor Office in Wrocław, there are currently 8,500 unemployed registered there, of which over 30 percent are over the age of 50.

The job centers have instruments to support entrepreneurs in creating jobs for people aged 50+, among others, to get them out of economic inactivity.

Rafał Niewiadomski

Last year, the Wrocław PUP (Labor Office) issued over 4,000 job referrals to people aged 50+, resulting in the employment of 1,400 of them. In turn, almost 3,600 people took advantage of career counseling. However, only 15 unemployed people of this age took part in training courses, and 55 people went for an internship. Eighteen registered people took advantage of subsidies for starting a business, and 21 people received wage reimbursement (aid for employers).

It pays to work in an intergenerational team

The conference “Mix of generations = maximum results. Generation Z and 50+ on the labor market” is the first part of a project that aims to draw attention to the untapped potential of people aged 50+ for business in Wrocław in 2025. Further events on this topic in the labor market are planned.

This conference was also prepared by an intergenerational team and I am glad that I have the pleasure of managing a team where at least four generations are present.

Małgorzata Golak, Director of the Office of Economic Development

The strategic partners of the event are the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency and the Western Chamber of Commerce Employers and Entrepreneurs. The substantive partner of the conference is HAYS Poland.