A woman focused on finding greater job opportunities for older workers and retirees says mindsets need to change in order to fill gaps in the work force.

Lisa Taylor of Challenge Factor hosted a summit in St. John’s this week to discuss ways to reintegrate more senior workers into the job site.

She says retirees who re-enter the workforce or even long-time employees looking for a change, can be valuable to companies looking for employees.

But, she warns, there can be a negative mindset surrounding hiring older workers, and that need to change.

“What we need to be thinking about is not how do people stay in the workforce longer, but how do we provide vibrant opportunities for people who may have had long careers in hard jobs for decades, to be able to transition with purpose in their 50s and 60s, into something else that actually serves their community.”