Second wind: older people are increasingly learning new professions
"Silver cadres" are older people who have retrained and mastered new professions. Increasingly, older professionals are becoming part of companies and startups, combining innovation and life practice. Why it's never too late to study, how the elderly open up new opportunities and how yesterday's pensioners become mentors for working youth — in the Izvestia article.
Education without age — how the "silver age in Russia" learns
Today, there are 3.5 thousand universities of the "third age" in the country and over 135 thousand clubs and organizations that involve older people in education. The programs include full-time and distance learning courses, workshops, seminars and trainings. By the middle of 2025, about 13.5 million older citizens are involved in active forms of leisure and education, and about 1 million more are studying educational programs, according to the "Strategy of Actions in the interests of Older Citizens in the Russian Federation", designed for the period up to 2030.
Vladimir Filippov, Deputy head of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Moscow, told Izvestia that the range of educational activities at the Moscow Longevity is very wide — from history and foreign languages to IT and marketing. In addition, legal, computer, and financial literacy classes remain an important block.
The Silver University operates on the basis of two metropolitan universities — the Moscow City Pedagogical University and the University of Synergy, where you can get a diploma of professional retraining. After graduation, course participants can find a job in a new specialty or develop new skills in their field, the press service of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Moscow told.
Since autumn, some classes for the elderly have been held in the capital's schools and universities. The author's lectures were prepared, for example, by teachers of the historical and philosophical faculties of the Lomonosov Moscow State University or the Stroganov Russian State Academy of Art and Industry.
Career reversal — why the older generation returns "to the desk"
Over the past six years, the coverage of vocational and continuing education programs for people over 50 has increased nine-fold. In total, 483.8 thousand citizens were trained, 71.5 thousand of them in 2024, and 673 thousand confirmed their employment, which shows the high efficiency and demand of such programs.
Larisa Mikallef, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication, believes that returning "to the desk" is not only a practical necessity, but also a desire to find a new meaning in life. The expert emphasized that for many it is a chance to realize long-held dreams and remain active.
Lyudmila Osipenko, Professor of the Department of Pedagogy at the Moscow State Pedagogical University, said that the list of sources of motivation includes the desire for socialization, keeping the mind in good shape, adapting to modern requirements, as well as the need for an additional source of income.
Joint research conducted by the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Moscow and the Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and Medical Management of the Moscow Department of Health showed that the participants of the Moscow Longevity feel noticeably more confident and active than those who are not involved in the project. More than half of the participants consider themselves active in cultural and social life, many demonstrate a higher level of mental health and are more likely to be satisfied with the quality of life.
A mature brain has undeniable advantages — developed crystallized intelligence, emotional wisdom and the ability to see systemic relationships, says Olga Berezkina, a neurologist at Moscow MRI Centers. At the same time, older people can really face difficulties mastering new technologies. This is due to the emerging cognitive overload, which is aggravated by the lack of a well-formed model of the "digital world" in the minds of older people, as well as a strong fear of error.
— A calm learning environment, the breakdown of tasks into micro—steps, drawing analogies with the real world and, most importantly, the psychological attitude of the person himself helps to overcome these difficulties - without self—blame for slowness, with willingness to ask for help, - says the doctor.
Modern Russia is undergoing an age-related demographic transformation, with people over the age of 60 making up a significant portion of the population. At the same time, life expectancy is increasing and attitudes towards active longevity are changing, according to Nadezhda Kapustina, professor of the Department of Economic Security and Risk Management at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
The second career of a candidate with experience is about success and employer evaluation
Dinara Vasbieva, associate Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, said that older people have a chance to apply for a job on an equal basis with other candidates and are in demand in large companies and important industries such as construction, energy, medicine, education and science.
Entrepreneur Pyotr Sukhorukikh told Izvestia that he, as an employer, looks at age candidates with pragmatic interest. According to him, those who have found the courage to offer their strengths to the business and honestly admitted that they will need help with something at the start find work. Sukhorukikh noted that honest dialogue is always more effective than any formal approaches.
— There are risks that a person will be slower to adapt, but the advantages for me, as the head of a remote team, often outweigh. I need a reliable person who will clearly perform his task. People of the older generation, if they delve into the process, show amazing loyalty and diligence. They don't disappear from the radar and don't burn out with every sneeze," Sukhorukh said.
Ilgiz Valinurov, a well-known Russian headhunter, notes that the trends towards education and advanced training among older people will only intensify. According to him, this is due not only to the needs of the labor market, but also to the development of medicine, the increase in life expectancy and the spread of active longevity programs. Valinurov added that digital skills are a key barrier for the older generation. At the same time, the expert adds, age is not an obstacle for those who are ready to study.
How working with grandmothers helps you win
Timur Abdullaev's brand Murmurism has found a new lease of life after experimenting with a collection of sweaters knitted by grandmothers. This was not the main focus, but the success inspired the founders to develop a business with a social impact, which was taken up by creative producer Elena Plavova, who has been changing people's lives through social projects for three years.
Today, the brand builds its model on the principle of win-win: craftsmen do what they love and earn money, customers receive things related to love, and the company has a unique competitive advantage. The grandmothers feel like they are part of a team: they have a common chat where they communicate, discuss products and support each other.
— I always look forward to receiving orders from Murmurizm. I really like the designs, I learned a lot from the descriptions sent. Working with Murmurism gives you a sense of your usefulness and significant financial support. I am very, very glad that two years ago my youngest daughter dropped a link to their page. I am happy to be a part of the Murmurism team," said craftswoman Yulia Novikova from Ust—Labinsk, Krasnodar Territory.
It is important for the founders that the knitters focus on creativity, and the company takes over all organizational processes. The logistics are clearly structured: yarn comes from manufacturers, is distributed to craftsmen throughout the country, finished products are assembled, undergo quality control and sent to customers. According to the founders, the main lesson learned from the older generation is the responsibility that grandmothers share with younger colleagues.
— I am interested in modern designs. I love everything new and evolving in my worldview. The fact that I work for Murmurism is, of course, very socializing. I've learned a lot of interesting things and I'm still learning. I am currently learning how to knit toys using the igurumi technique. Knitting is a training of mental activity and hands," said Irina Botsva, a craftswoman from Korolev.
Today, craftsmen are actively working in many regions of Russia, from large megacities to small settlements. They can be found in Novorossiysk, Cherepovets, Severodvinsk, Ulan-Ude and even Kaliningrad. Needlewomen also live in small towns and villages — in Sanino and the Vladimir region, in Kaluga Tovarkov, in Ishimbai, Komarovka of the Penza region, as well as in Opochka and Novorzhev of the Pskov region. Even in remote corners, such as Dudinka in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tengushevo in the Republic of Mordovia or the village of Yuzhny in the Krasnodar Territory.
Marina Semenova, HR Director of Mokkano, said that in small towns, older employees are becoming a particularly valuable resource. They bring responsibility, attention to detail, and stability to the team, as well as help young colleagues learn patience. Senior employees create a special corporate atmosphere: friendly, homely, with traditions that unite the team. New employees are often brought by friends and relatives — word of mouth works well. This way, older employees become the face of the brand: their sociability and friendliness are appreciated by customers, and turnover among them is minimal.
Irina Andreeva, the author and organizer of the Silver Entrepreneurship Workshop program, notes that the project was created to support older entrepreneurs and unlock their potential. Today, about a third of her team members are 60+ people. Many graduates become part of the team because they feel respected and in demand.
Serafima Chumachenko, Head of the recruitment department at ECOOKNA GROUP, said that in 20 years of work, the company had never introduced strict age limits into its personnel policy. In the context of technological development, retraining is sometimes required, but the company pays special attention to this: there is an internal university, and mentors of any age help in the work. The atmosphere in the team is based on respect and professionalism, regardless of gender, age or experience.
Who teaches whom — how older employees become mentors
Ekaterina Sorokina, Director of Human Resources at Technonicol, said that the company had long since started hiring older employees. This trend appeared six to seven years ago, when there was a shortage of specialists in rare fields: technologists, engineers, designers, chemists. People of silver age are specialists you can rely on.: They are responsible, involved, and often set trends themselves, Sorokina emphasized.
HR Director of the consulting company "Together.PRO" and Dmitry Chernyshov, a practicing psychologist, believes that combining different generations in one team is a strategic advantage, especially in the consulting world, where speed is valued.
— Dialogue between generations is a business strategy. Every age has its strengths, and only through their exchange is real progress born, because the future belongs to those who know how to listen and hear, at any age," the expert emphasized.
Chernyshov noted that "silver cadres" can act not only as consultants, but also as mentors and strategists.
Rich professional experience is a unique advantage of older people, so they are especially in demand in those industries where they can realize it, according to the press service of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the capital.
Victoria Markova, an expert on the 5.0 project at the My Career specialized employment center, added that the largest number of job offers for this category of citizens has traditionally been concentrated in the fields of trade and finance, industry, as well as in transport and construction.
Tatiana Patuzhnaya, co-founder of SIGMA logistics company, said that the decision to attract older employees was dictated by a shortage of personnel and the need for qualified personnel. The company has revised the recruitment process: age restrictions are excluded from vacancies, the emphasis is on stability and assessment of real skills. Communication in the team is based on the principle of respect, which is already established at the interview stage.
Evgeny Alexandrov, HR Director of Biochemist JSC, noted that both young talents and employees of the "silver age" are equally important in the company's personnel policy. In Biochemistry, the emphasis is not on age, but on competencies. Employees of any generation can become mentors, the main thing is their knowledge and experience. The turnover rate of the "silver specialists" is close to zero: they perceive the team as a professional family and strive to bring maximum benefit to the company until retirement.
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