Older Workers May Become More Common As Many Push Back Retirement Age: Survey Says

Everyone’s buzzing about how Gen Y is taking over the workplace, but the offices of the future are more likely to be populated by older, not younger, employees. The average age at which Americans expect to retire has hit 67, up from 63 a decade ago and age 60 in the mid-1990s, according to a new Gallup poll.

With just 38 percent of non-retirees saying they expect to have enough money to live comfortably in retirement (a new low), it's easy to see why people are planning to work longer. Back in 2002, 59 percent of non-retirees believed they would enjoy a comfortable retirement, but when The Great Recession hit, that number dipped below 50 percent and has stayed there ever since.

Why it matters to your business: More people working longer means more selection for you in terms of employees. You might be able to pick and choose from skilled, experienced older employees. And with some of them likely seeking only part-time work, this could mean opportunities to benefit from their years of experience at a reduced cost to you.

Comments

[LaMer]

10:28 AM on 06/05/2012

No wonder that in Spain the unemployment rate of the youth is 50% and plus.

[Thaigold]

01:33 AM on 06/05/2012

Yep...look at that 75-year old grandpa doing my yard with the leaf blower strapped to his back. Now excuse me, I'm off to the local fresh food market to work as a stock-man and greeter. Sure hope my arthritis doesn't act up.

[Lucho13]

06:50 AM on 05/24/2012

Being a 60 yr.Baby Boomer self employed for 18 yrs. I can say that I feel bad for young people looking for work. The elite establishment has fooled us all into dreaming the " American Dream "
well it was and is just a dream too good to be true .
18 yrs.ago I was an employee , and I got pissed off of all the office politics ,of who the Boss's favorite employee was.
Because he/she got all the promotions and Travel assignments ..So I became my own boss .It hasn't been easy .but I feel the freedom of working for my own benefit.
So instead of crying because you feel that your are being screwed by the Boomers. Just remember this , youre younger and you have plenty of years ahead to find your place .
We the Boomers are slowly disappearing , and you'll be the new guys on the job, or the new busines person . Good luck ..
Lucho 13

[Tom Hendricks]

01:08 PM on 05/22/2012

Well here's a senior worker that has a jobs idea to put just about everyone back to work. Do it in one day, without the government involved, and with little sacrifice from any single person or company. But be sure you are open to new ideas before reading further. If you think doing the same thing over and over will solve this problem. Stop here.
There is a solution to the jobs problem and it could quickly put hundreds of thousands of people back to work. It is not pro left or right. It is not from any corporatio­n, it's outside the government control, it's totally voluntary, works in about one week, and helps all with little sacrifice from anyone.

National Hiring Day - This is a day that corporatio­ns are encouraged to hire new employees. Corporatio­ns are called on to put patriotism first and help their country in
hard times. Those corporatio­ns that cannot hire, are asked to stop firing for that month.

Republicans should love this because it's outside the government and voluntary. Democrats should love this because it helps those needing jobs. Independents should love it because it helps all with little sacrifice from any one corporation, group, or person. Corporations should love this because with just a hire or two they become part of a collective country wide jump start of the economy.

[bitterqueen]

01:00 AM on 05/22/2012

Or how the Baby Boomers are going to screw us in the butt one more time before they all cost us a fortune as the suck up more resources as they begin to die off.

[SST Tech]

01:16 PM on 05/29/2012

I guess your generation will live forever with perfect health and prosper with jobs that last through your golden years and beyond.