The companies that made the American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) list of the top employers for workers over age 50 have some interesting features in common. They recognize a need for flexibility, they offer generous health care and life insurance benefits, and they recognize the value in keeping employees who know their jobs inside out.

"We have a very seasoned staff that brings a tremendous amount of talent to the company," said Aerospace Corporation spokesperson, Linda Brill. "That's one of the reasons for our success." Aerospace ranks 14th on the list of 15 companies. More than half of Aerospace's workers are age 55 or older.

ABN AMRO North America, the top ranked company, brings in a team of part-time workers every month to perform tasks such as sending out statements. Work/Life Programs Director Kathy Short describes the older members of the team as among the most dependable. "Most are retired employees who want to continue serving some useful purpose but don't want a fulltime commitment, so it's a wonderful schedule." Seventeen percent of ABN AMRO's 19,000 employees are age 50 or older.

Nationwide, unemployment is 5.7%. In the age 55 and over bracket, the rate among those who want to continue working is 4%. More than 13% of the national workforce is now over age 55, and that number is expected to grow to 20% by 2015, according to AARP.

The top 15 companies ranked for recruiting, promoting, and training older or former workers as well as offering attractive compensation and benefit packages are:

1. ABN AMRO North America
2. Baptist Health South Florida
3. Prudential Financial
4. Howard University
5. Qualcomm
6. Calibre
7. The Stanley Group
8. New York Life Insurance Company
9. The Hartford Financial Services Group
10. Adecco Employment Service
11. DaVita
12. Ultratech Stepper
13. Mitretek Systems
14. The Aerospace Corporation
15. Principal Financial Group