American workforces are changing as a result of two significant shifts. In the first place, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming everything about work. AI-related job displacement continues to pose a major challenge to American workers, disrupting our economy.

It is equally disruptive to our economy to have a rapidly aging workforce. Approximately 25% of our nation’s workforce will be 55 or older by 2028, according to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The economy of the United States will benefit even more from the presence of older workers.

The number of jobs available exceeds the number of people looking for them. Even so, older workers are often discriminated against when applying for positions where they would be excellent candidates. Additional barriers to employment, such as being a woman or a veteran, can make employment more difficult.

A wide range of job tasks are affected by automation using generative AI (such as ChatGPT). In spite of that, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s 2023 report shows that AI will not be able to replace humans in many jobs no matter how advanced it becomes.

Right now, older workers have a unique advantage with highly valuable experience, skills, and wisdom that even artificial intelligence can’t match.

In addition, AI can’t train future generations to keep up with these very human skills. Relationships between mentors and mentees have been a crucial part of training future generations for decades. A multigenerational workforce has been reported to have benefits even by workers themselves.