thatboyjaden06 Over the past two decades, the share of the workforce aged 55+ has…Over the past two decades, the share of the workforce aged 55+ has almost doubled.
By 2028, over 25% of our workforce will be over age 55.
By 2030, it’s estimated that a whopping 150 million jobs will shift to workers 55+.
What is causing these trends?
Companies are finding they don’t have the talent they want in the quantities they need, especially in our post-pandemic world.
Fewer young people are entering the workforce due, in part, to lower birth rates, and a long-held trend towards early retirement is giving way to a more recent “unretirement” trend where retirees are rejoining the labor force in increasingly larger numbers.
Populations are living longer, saving for retirement is increasingly harder, and the cost of living is skyrocketing.
In general, youngers workers are demonstrating a stronger resistance to the post-pandemic “return to the office” mandates and are seeking remote workplaces offering greater flexibility.
Older workers, by comparison, are typically most happy to report to work in the office, are focused on mastering their crafts and skills, and are rewarded by the social interactions provided to them from continued employment.
But….is the picture for older women in the workforce equal to that of older men? In other words, is there an adequate balance among women workers age 55+ who wish to re-enter or remain in the workforce as compared to men of the same age? Watch the video attached to this forum, Age Discrimination in the Workplace Starts as Early as 35, to learn more. Even though the majority of students in this class are many years away from directly facing this dilemma, it will arrive much more quickly than you anticipate. Plus, some of you will become managers and supervisors in charge of hiring and face these decisions. Others of you have parents or grandparents already dealing with ageism and even younger workers are not immune. While considering whether this is a balance or an imbalance among women and men, keep in mind that marriage rates in the U.S. are declining, the the U.S. Census Bureau now reports that 43% of all divorces occur between 55 -64, and the average life expectancy for women in the U.S. is 4-5 years longer than for the average male. All of these facts lean towards women having to support themselves now more than ever.
Forum Questions:
What is the most interesting thing you learned?
What was the most useful fact you gained?
Which fact was most surprising? Why?
Do you feel that this trend will change for the better or worse in your professional lifetime? What do you feel can or will bring about this change? Why?Arts & HumanitiesEnglish
