WHEREAS Idaho’s labor force numbered 93,400 workers 55 years of age and older in 2006 while an additional 2,600 were looking for work; and

        WHEREAS older workers will play an increasingly important role in maintaining America’s economy and leadership in the world marketplace as they continue working full or part time, reducing dependency on governmental programs while they increase their social, physical and emotional health; and

        WHEREAS we recognize well-documented findings that employers rate older workers high on factors such as judgment, commitment to quality, attendance, punctuality and loyalty as the older workers contribute their extensive range of knowledge and scheduling flexibility to adapt to fluctuations of business; and

        WHEREAS, despite high job qualifications, the search for employment becomes more difficult as individuals grow older, and many experience difficulty finding new jobs; and

        WHEREAS it is appropriate that Idaho join the President in designating a week to work toward the objective that each worker will be judged on the basis of individual ability to do a specific job;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim the week of September 23-29, 2007

EMPLOY THE OLDER WORKER WEEK

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 12th day of September in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE