Canada is in the middle of a workforce challenge. Job vacancies remain high. Skilled tradespeople are retiring. And many industries — from construction to healthcare — are struggling to keep up. As of June 2025, Canada’s unemployment rate sits at 6.9%, with 1.6 million people actively looking for work. Many employers are struggling to fill key positions, particularly in trades and care-based sectors.
Yet thousands of older, skilled, and experienced adults who want or need to keep working are being quietly pushed aside. While elder abuse is often discussed in the context of home or care settings, workplaces play a vital role in shaping attitudes toward aging. When older adults are excluded from meaningful work, it not only impacts their income and independence, it can also reinforce ageist stereotypes that contribute to social isolation, a known risk factor for abuse.
At the same time, nearly one in four Canadians will be over the age of 65 by 2030. This growing demographic shift is a call to action, urging us to reimagine how we value, engage, and protect older adults in every sphere of society, including the workplace.

From Overlooked to Essential with WISE

This is where W.I.S.E. (Wisdom, Inclusivity, Synergy, and Equity) steps in. Developed through On Your Own Time, W.I.S.E. is a free workplace certification program designed to help employers tap into the expertise of experienced workers.

W.I.S.E. works by guiding employers through a practical, supportive audit of their hiring language, benefits, training opportunities, and workplace culture. The process identifies gaps and opportunities, then provides tailored recommendations and inclusive hiring tools that make it easier to create environments where experience is valued as an asset, not a liability.

Organizations that meet W.I.S.E.’s standards earn a public certification badge, a clear signal to older job seekers that they are welcome, wanted, and valued.For employers, the benefits are substantial. Age inclusion opens access to a broader talent pool and delivers employee retention rates 5.4 times higher than non-inclusive companies.

It preserves valuable institutional knowledge while fostering stronger, more engaged teams, and these organizations are three times more likely to be high-performing. By embracing age inclusion, employers can strengthen their competitive edge, close persistent labour gaps, and build a workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Whether you’re an employer, policymaker, or experienced worker, your role matters. By championing age inclusion today, we’re not only filling critical gaps in the labor market, we’re building workplaces that are wiser, stronger, and more resilient for the future. Because when every generation has a seat at the table, everyone benefits.

Learn more or get certified at: www.onyourowntime.ca/w-i-s-e .

References

1. Statistics Canada, “Labour Force Survey, June 2025,” July 11, 2025.

2. Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, “Government of Canada invests to help Canadians enter skilled trades,” July 27, 2022.Bush, M. (2023, August 25). Why Is Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace Important? Great Place To Work. Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/why-is-diversity-inclusion-in-the-workplace-important

3. Statistics Canada, “The older people are all right,” September 23, 2024. https://diversio.com/dei-employee-retention/

 

Learn more or get certified: www.onyourowntime.ca/w-i-s-e
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