The
Mature Workforce Will Change Retirement and Build Wisconsin's
Workplace Bridge to the Future
By Carleen MacKay
Posted on 3/16/07
Attention baby boomers and
beyond. Do you remember these lyrics?
"The gates are all down and the
signals are flashin'
The whistle is screaming in vain.
If you stay on the tracks ignoring the facts,
Then you can't blame the wreck on the train." *
Set to the music of the 1960s, these powerful
lyrics resonate with today’s boomers and traditionalists
who seek to stay financially secure over longer lifetimes,
to avoid the boredom that comes from having too little to
do, and to leave behind a stronger economy and a better world.
They are not going to be victims of a train wreck, nor are
they going to contribute to one. Who are these mature workers
gearing up for the future—and how will they work?
Most people need the income and/or
health benefits that working provides. Their financial
security is at risk as they face one-third of their lifetime
beyond what was once called a traditional retirement age.
How will these folks work in the future?
Many will work through temporary firms and purchase affordable
health benefits at costs spread out over a large base of
contributors. Others will live hand-to-mouth, or depend
upon their children, until Social Security and Medicare
kick in. Some will learn the bitter lesson that willingness
to work is not the ticket to working in an age-biased America.
A smart few will prepare NOW—by developing market-specific
skills and competencies—in order to work when they
want, for as long as they want, and as hard as they want.
Some understand that life without
work may be boring. Often, these people have enjoyed
meaningful work throughout their careers and look forward
to continuing, in some capacity, through their maturity. Leaving
work abruptly, or completely, is not their most interesting
option.
How will these folks work in the future?
Many will turn to volunteerism right here at home—by
mentoring our youngest generation and helping them to become
the highly-skilled, well-educated workforce America will
need if it is to continue to compete successfully. Others
will specialize in areas of high marketplace need, and they
will be good candidates for phased retirement options offered
by their employers. They will transfer knowledge to future
generations and fill-in masterfully when just-in-time help
is required.
Some even plan to leave behind a
stronger economy than they inherited. By continuing
to work and continuing to save, they can change the possibilities
for their children—whose struggle in a new global and
technology-driven economy will be very different from their
own.
How will these folks work in the future?
Many will plan, and most will succeed, to work long past
age 65. They will manage their independence for as long
as possible, and work to effect overdue reform in our entitlement
systems in order to ensure a viable future. These travelers
from the ‘60’s know that the fountain of youth
may be found in the fight for a good cause.
If you are 50+ today, you need to
begin planning now.
Now is the time to inquire, read, study and learn before taking
any formal steps in preparing for your future. Why? Because
the future will be different—and you want to make certain
you are prepared to work where the need is greatest and your
interest is strongest. You also want to be highly employable.
So, do your homework now! Visit your local universities and
community colleges, the Department of Labor, and temporary
firms such as Spherion. Visit the AARP website and scroll
to the National Employers team. There, you’ll find “age-friendly”
firms who understand the value you bring to work.
* Note to readers: Do you know
who wrote the lyrics quoted at the beginning of this article?
You can win a copy of my latest book, Boom or Bust, if you
are first to email me the correct answer at carleenmackay@spherion.com.
Boom or Bust, by the way, is the book that tells you how to
navigate your mature career in America.
Carleen MacKay is a Subject Matter Expert
of the Mature Workforce at Spehrion
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