Not Quite Ready to Slow Down, Today’s Baby Boomers Want to Work Differently
Addressing the workforce challenges of the age-diverse workforce begins with an understanding of the priorities and needs of each generation. From Baby Boomers and Gen Xers to Millennials and Gen Zs, each group brings a different view on careers and life.
While Millennial and Gen Z workers are grabbing a lot of today’s headlines, we wanted to step back and look at the Baby Boomer generation, those born between 1945 and 1965, and who are reaching retirement age. What’s interesting is that as this generation makes its slow departure from the world of work, the workforce is not keeping up when it comes to replenishing them. For example, USA Today reported that between 2015 and 2025, the United States is predicted to see a 38 percent increase in the over-65 population while the U.S. population of those between ages 18 and 64 is only expected to rise by three percent, thereby contributing to a shortage of workers.
The workstyles of Baby Boomers are also changing. After long careers, mainly working as traditional, full-time employees, many Baby Boomers are looking to continue working, but on a smaller, more-flexible scale as contractors or consultants. They bring a deep level of experience, and in addition to their subject matter expertise and hard skills, they can prove valuable for their soft skills, helping others in areas of communication and management.
For Baby Boomers, Workstyles are Changing
It’s no secret that the retirement of Baby Boomers is contributing to a shortage of workers. All around the world, employers are frantically trying to keep up: some countries are increasing wages; others are raising retirement ages. Other reasons why employers should keep Baby Boomers engaged are because they provide a wealth of experience, and their preference to continue working can be a massive win for any company. To succeed, employers will need to accommodate flexible schedules and new work models.
If you’re an employer looking to attract and retain Baby Boomer workers, here are some industry articles relevant to engaging this generation in the workforce:
- “Understanding Baby Boomers At Work: Fast Facts For CHROs”
- Pew Research states that Baby Boomers’ presence in the U.S. workforce is now 41 million. Organizations are now struggling to help this generation fit into a constantly changing workforce.
- “Our Assumptions About Old and Young Workers Are Wrong” When we think of older generations in the workforce, we often make assumptions that are incorrect. Older generations are positive and excited about the work they are contributing and are consistently investing in learning new skills.
- “What Younger Workers Can Learn from Older Workers and Vice Versa” Cross-generational mentoring and coaching benefits everyone in the workplace, cultivating environments where workers of all ages feel more closely connected and compassionate for one another.
- “Millennials and Baby Boomers Can Work Together. Here’s How to Make It Happen” Learn ways to help retain top talent from across all generations while also finding tasks, processes, and projects that unify them.
- “Baby Boomers Delaying Retirement: Generational Shifts At Work” Some Baby Boomers are delaying retirement due to both finances and employer demands on their skills. Because many generations are now present in the workforce, employers are looking for ways to bring the best out of each generation and create ample opportunities for growth.
- “12 Outstanding Statistics on Baby Boomers and Social Media” Baby Boomers have been stereotyped by younger generations for being uninformed and outdated when it comes to technology and social media. However, recent studies show that this is not the case.
Related Articles
Diverse Workers: Who are We Talking About and Why?
Six Ideas to Bring Generations Together at Work
Opportunities to Fight Bias Span the Entire Talent Acquisition Process