GOLDEN - Hard to believe or not, more than 100 companies recruited workers over the age of 50 on Wednesday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

"We find that those workers have the maturity to roll with the punches," said Elaine Hood, communications specialist for Raytheon Polar Services.

The Raytheon division provides support for scientists in Antarctica and hires about 1,000 people a year for five-month stints, including some in their 60s and 70s.

"The mature workers have seen a lot. When the work schedule changes due to the weather, they just shrug it off and get it done," Hood said.

The "50+ and Fabulous" employment fair drew more than 1,000 job seekers. The Jefferson and Adams County Workforce Centers sponsored the fair with Arapahoe/Douglas Works!

"I've been looking for work for six months," said Judy Moskel, 54. "Sometimes when I go for an interview, the human resources director is 25 and gasps when they see me."

Moskel gathered applications and Web sites from a dozen employers. Better yet, the recruiters were encouraging, she said, because of her experience in customer service.

"Please! Someone hire me," she said.

The potential employers ranged from AAA Colorado to Whole Foods. Trucking companies were looking for experienced drivers, and casinos needed everything from cooks to managers.

"We're looking for people with customer skills. We'll train them with the job skills," said Michelle Wilkinson, a human relations specialist for Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk. "The more mature workers are more reliable."

Some of the job seekers said they wanted extra money after retirement or a way to get out of the house.

"It gets you out in the world, you make money and it keeps you younger," said Betty Petersen, who was recruiting for Rocky Mountain Senior Employment Redevelopment, which found her a part-time job.

Like most job fairs, many of the positions started at less than $10 an hour - too little for people recently laid off from jobs that paid $50,000 or more a year.

"It's a tough go," said Mark Vogt, 52, who was laid off nine months ago as a supervisor for a home builder. "Most of it pays too little to support a family."

Vogt, who has been delivering newspapers for 19 years to make extra money, said a speaker at a workshop on finding jobs told him to dye his hair.

"It's real frustrating and real depressing," Vogt said. "But you just have to keep plugging."

Companies that offered health benefits drew more applications than firms that didn't. The lines were long for temporary work agencies and state parks.

"The older workers bring the sum total of their life experience into the work environment," said Chris Bradshaw, who was recruiting seasonal employees for Chatfield State Park.

frazierd@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5308