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March 11, 2009

Assume your older workers aren’t tech-savvy? Think again

More and more studies are showing that, although people over 50 have been slower to embrace new technologies, they’re catching up fast.

For example, according to a joint study by TNS Compete and the Consumer Electronics Association:

• Consumers in their 50s are as likely to own HDTVs as those under 50.
  
• Eighty percent of people over 60 used a cell phone during the past week—at nearly equal the usage rates of 18- to 34-year-olds.
  
• And 71 percent of people over 60 and 52 percent of those over 70 used a search engine during the past week—as compared to 77 percent of 18- to 34-year olds.

Where do older Americans differ from younger cohorts? Younger demographics are much more likely to play video games, use MP3 players and they use social networking twice as much as older Americans.

And people over 50 rely more on in-person information from sales associates when they purchase electronic products. In addition, they find too many features to be a negative: 60 percent of those aged 50 and older find complicated products frustrating, as compared to 39 percent of 18- to 34-year olds.

My point? Don’t assume that because a percentage of your workforce is over 50 that they’re not using technology to communicate. (On the flip side, don’t assume that because you built it, they will come.) Make sure you know how employees are engaging with communication tools, and adjust your program accordingly.

Posted by Alison Davis at March 11, 2009 11:13 AM