| For many years Canadian businesses were worried about the
predicted employee shortage as baby boomers hit retirement age. It looks
as if they were worried for nothing.
Since more workers will be eligible to leave the labour force than
there are people to enter it during the next ten years, it will open up a
whole new world of opportunity for baby boomers who want to "slow
down" or "reduce" their work load, but who don't want to
stop working entirely.
Because of the improvement in medical care, technological innovations
and the fact that Canadians are healthier and living longer, many of them
are looking forward to their "retirement years" as a time to
fulfil many of the dreams that were put on hold while they were raising
children and struggling with a career in the "fast lane".
Many boomers want to travel, go back to school, begin a small business
or work part-time in a relaxed service type of environment. They are
dependable, flexible, and don't expect a lot in return for their work such
as high wages and benefits since many of them already receive a pension
income from a former company or from investments. They just want to have
some purpose to their life and have a "reason to get up in the
morning".
Some, however, are finding that they need some extra income just to
make ends meet and since they are still health and have a lot to
contribute, they are going to stay on and work, even if only part-time.
The "rocking chair" is not the destination of choice for many
boomers. As long as their physical and intellectual capacities are there,
they will carry on in some form of work. Many are actually beginning a
completely new career once they retire from their primary career. They are
discovering the "passion" they felt when they were 20 years old,
but they are now much wiser and can pick and choose where they will offer
their services.
Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Alberta, Prince
Edward Island Yukon and the Northwest Territories have all banned
mandatory retirement, while Saskatchewan and British Columbia are planning
to do away with it by 2008. They are all paving the way for boomers to
remain active and working beyond the age of 65.
Job sharing, working from home, and
part-time work will become the norm as companies realize that they cannot
function without the help of the experienced baby boomers.
It will be very interesting to see the
impact this has on the career plans of young people who are about to enter
the job market and who are looking for entry positions. Perhaps they will
be wise to find a person who is close to retirement and discuss the
prospects of sharing the position with them. |
