An almost untapped job market lies just beyond graduation — careers with the elderly.

By 2030, the number of people in the United States who are 65 years old and over will nearly double as a result of the baby boom generation growing older, said Tamar Shovali, a senior from Athens and president of Sigma Phi Omega, the gerontology honor and professional society.

This translates into more jobs with the aging, said Sook Yoon, a senior from Snellville and president of Bulldog Outreach to Nursing Homes and Elderly.

“There’s a really good job market,” Yoon said.

Education about occupations with the elderly and about gerontology, the study of aging, is the focus of national Careers in Aging Week, beginning today.

In order to commemorate the event, BONE, the Institute of Gerontology in the College of Public Health and SPO are teaming up for the Second Annual Careers in Aging Week Networking and Roundtable Discussion.

“It gives you a good understanding of what opportunities are available and needed in aging-related fields,” Shovali said.

During the event, students will sit down with a professional working in the aging field, who will speak for 15 minutes. Students will then switch tables at the end of the 15 minutes to hear from another expert in the field.

Speakers include a geriatric care manager, a St. Mary’s Hospital employee and a University faculty member from the Institute of Gerontology, where students can earn a Certificate of Gerontology.

In addition to learning about jobs at the discussion, students can also work at a craft table making flower arrangements and calendars for the elderly.

Shovali said she thinks it’s valuable to attend this event.

 “It’s important for students to build their access to gerontology-related fields,” Shovali said. “They can learn about aging America and potentially even their own aging.”

She also said formal training in gerontology would give students the edge they need when entering the job market.

“It gives you a little bit of a niche,” Shovali said.

Yoon said a Certificate of Gerontology would help students become more marketable in a shaky financial climate.

“In an economy like this, we need to figure out where to go for jobs,” she said. “It’s really, really getting hard.” 

Shovali said last year, 80 students attended the careers in aging discussion, and organizers expect the same turnout this year.

When asked why students would want to work with the elderly, Yoon said students may want to secure their futures by being professionals in the aging field.

“Students do eventually grow old, so they’ll be at that stage as well,” she said. “People might be interested in doing that so they can get something in return when they reach that age.”

Students can drop in on the careers in aging discussion on Thursday anytime from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Tate Center Reception Hall.