I recently read an interesting article about older workers becoming a growing share of the American workforce.
I found this most interesting because probably the No. 1 question I hear from people in the process of a job search, starting in their 50s, is their concern that they’re viewed as being too old” to be relevant anymore.
Related to this discussion: Younger people saying they’re not able to land specific jobs because they’re too young. Their perception is that older workers, hence more experienced, are getting all the good jobs.
I tell both categories that they’re mistaken.
The new reality, as outlined by Abha Bharrarai, who writes about economics for the Washington Post, is that more Americans 65 and older are playing an even larger role in the national labor force.
Referring to a recent Pew Research Center report, the article stated that 19 percent of Americans aged 65 and older were employed in 2023, compared to only 11 percent in 1987.
“The share of older Americans who are working, by choice or necessity, has doubled in the past 35 years,” the report said. “And it tends to be better-educated, older adults with a college degree.”
There are several trends here, some more subtle than others, but they’re led by the fact that workers are staying longer in the workforce. Also, older Americans are simply healthier than in past generations.
One more thing: the nature of work has changed. We now have flex work hours and flex job sites, and fewer physically grueling positions like those in factories and on farms.
Avoid 50-to-60-hour work weeks with stress
Many of these jobs are what I refer to as “wind-down career.”
These are workers who feel financially secure enough to retire and thus avoid 50-to-60-hour work weeks with frenzied stress levels.
But you’re too healthy and energetic to totally walk away from the stimulation of work you enjoy. After all, you can take so many cruises and only play golf so many times a week.
A wind-down career job can include consulting gigs, working for a small nonprofit, or, for doctors, doing telemedicine rather than seeing patients in person.
I’ve met quite a few older workers who went from middle-management positions to being Lyft drivers, by choice, just for the freedom of it. Now, they have complete control of their workday.
There’s also been increased acceptance of employees who wish to continue where they’re currently working, with mutual benefit to the employer. When a long-term employee retires, there’s usually a loss of historical know-how that’s walking out the door.
Besides, if you are healthy and still enjoying your work, why retire?
Not by coincidence, my business partner, Mel Katz, and I find ourselves in that situation. After all these years, we’re still excited to go to work. We work with great people on our Manpower team, within a constantly evolving industry, and with great clients.
We are also continually changing people’s futures by finding them more fulfilling work.
We need their skills now to move company forward
In the world of HR, the newer mantra is, does this candidate have the skills and attitude we need to do this job? We don’t care if they’re 19 or 89, we need their skills now to move this company forward.
The average recent new-hire job length is two years, and the typical perm job, for all ages, is now slightly over four years. Job seekers, old and young alike, need to laser focus on positions that utilize the skills required, regardless of their age.
Companies are not hiring anticipating the employee retiring in 35 years. They’re hiring for the skills they need right now. And if the employee doesn’t keep their skills up to the needed level, they’ll be replaced.
More than ever, the most highly valued employees are the ones interested in learning new skills and technologies, feeling good about their work and their employer, and being fairly compensated.
When any of those aren’t happening, they’ll be moving on.
Find the jobs that need your skills, and forget about your age.
Blair is co-founder of Manpower Staffing and can be reached at [email protected]
Phil Blair www.sandiegouniontribune.com
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2023-12-25 13:45:42 , Oceanside