Compared to other workforce fields in the United States, higher education holds the highest number of older employees, according to a new report published by College and University Professional Association for Human Resources’ (CUPA-HR).
The report, “The Challenges of an Aging Higher Ed Workforce,” points out the effects of an older workforce within higher education as well as gender pay inequity.
“If you highlight those areas on campus where there’s going to be a bigger impact, it provides opportunities for institutions to rethink that the way they do things, how they build their workforce, how they plan for succession and create a pipeline of individuals within higher education to continue working in those roles,” said Dr. Adam Pritchard, a senior survey researcher at CUPA-HR. “And we wanted to highlight those areas and the issues that come up in those areas.”
According to the research, the average age for all higher education staff is 45, compared to the national average of 42. Employees who are 55 years old and older make up 29 percent of the higher education staff compared to 23 percent of the rest of the U.S. workforce.
Pritchard presumes that higher education is aging because faculty and staff members believe in the mission of an education and are committed to staying longer lengths of time.
“I think it draws people in who are committed to the ideals of the institution as well as the work they do, regardless of what type of work that is,” he said.
Additionally, faculty in skilled craft, facilities, service and maintenance areas have the highest percentage of older workers, with nearly 40 percent or more over the age of 55, according to the CUPA-HR report.
