The Depósitos de Tabaco de Cádiz served as the venue for the 'Power of Reinvention' conference, an initiative by the Cámara de Comercio de España, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus and the State Public Employment Service (SEPE), in collaboration with 65YMÁS and the Fundación Más Sénior. The event brought together various personalities to discuss senior unemployment, training, and ageism in the workplace.
“"Seven out of ten long-term unemployed individuals are over 45 years old."
During the inauguration, the president of the Cámara de Comercio de Cádiz warned about the worrying employment situation of this group in the province, describing the number of long-term unemployed over 45 as «terrifying». He advocated for the possibility of reinvention and made the Chamber's resources available to facilitate access to dignified employment.
Similarly, the provincial director of the SEPE in Cádiz highlighted the professional and human value of those over 45, emphasizing their judgment, resilience, and expertise. He particularly focused on unemployed senior women, a demographic the province cannot afford to waste. He insisted that supporting senior talent is a strategic decision, not an exercise in nostalgia.
“"An economy that ignores its veterans is an economy that renounces its own wisdom."
The manager of the Cádiz City Council's Institute for Development (IFEF) presented the Depósitos de Tabaco as a space open to citizens and announced an aid program to promote the hiring of women over 45, with incentives of up to 10,000 euros for local companies.
Actress Teté Delgado shared her experience of professional and personal reinvention, denouncing ageism and advocating for the value of intergenerational teams. She encouraged those facing employment difficulties to stay active and continue learning, recalling advice from Clint Eastwood: «Don't let the old man in».
The president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz, Teófila Martínez, argued that «experience is a master's degree that no money can buy» and stressed the importance of combining experience with new generations for business success. She encouraged the unemployed to remain active and explore opportunities in sectors such as logistics.
