The first of the baby boomers have now reached retirement age. What will that do to the workforce? Some predict dire labor shortages. Others say, "Not so!"

What do you think? Will retiring baby boomers impact our economy and the workforce? Read our article about baby boomers retiringhttp://www.businessknowhow.com/manage/labor-shortage.htm, then post your comments here.

Janet Attard
Founder, Business Know-How Network
http://www.businessknowhow.com
http://franchisetrade.com
http://www.careerknowhow.com

Fascinating topic. I voted "that it's too early to tell". However, it does concern me that there is a shortage of doctors, nurses and teachers here in Australia.

The baby boomers I know (my parents, aunts/uncles, their friends, my friends, etc) all seem to want and need to work. For financial reasons (it's a myth that all or most baby boomers are financially secure) and for personal happiness and contentment. However, many do seem to want to work less, with less pressure.

Which is interesting, because many younger people - especially those with children - want flexible work hours too. For example, here in Australia parents are constantly having to deal with the problem of how to look after their kids, given that they get 4 weeks annual leave while their kids have 8 weeks school holidays. (Is it worse in the U.S. where 10 days annual leave is standard?) Seems obvious to give each employee the option of having more leave/less pay...

So... if a labor shortage does emerge, I think employers will need to create more flexible working enviroments if they want to attract and keep the best workers - whether baby boomer, generation x, or whatever.

Anna Johnson
How To Manage People (Even If You're A Control Freak!)
www.howtomanagepeople.com

My own humble opinion on this... (and I'm on the leading edge of boom, having reached age 60)

I seriously doubt we'll see huge labor shortages. One look at the unemployment statisics will bear out the fact that there are many people who for one reason or another don't seem to have jobs.

Remember, those stats only speak of people who have lost their jobs and are looking for work. They don't cover folks who have stopped working for someone else and are choosing to work for themselves.

There will be industries where shortages are possible. More likely what will happen is a lack of depth of understanding... technology will rise or the industry will falter. Think about products no longer being manufactured or sold in the USA... typewriters come to mind for some reason.

To me, the larger issue will be a shortage of skilled, willing to work younger people. Our education system isn't keeping pace in that arena. We're churning out tons of folks who can pass tests, but can't get to work on time, or stay there all day, let alone get the job done.

The "want it now" atmosphere we live in will create far greater problems in the workforce than will the pending retirement of the "boomers". Most of us will be working longer, just to satisfy those "want it now" cravings.

Again, just my opinion,

Shari Thomas

I own a company now, but when I was younger, say 17 to 32, I was the very thing I complain about now - late to work and called off work occationally. There are plenty of young people that need work, but they just don't have the maturity and focus yet to produce what they are capable of. We have a growing population, especially as a result of illegal immigration, but like generations past, those uneducated individuals that come here work hard so their kids can get an education, maybe just high school, and their kids then go on to college. It just takes some time. No, I don't think we have a labor shortage. We do have a shortage of mentors (as in 'responsible fathers') that lead our young men to be good citizens and spouses. Too many young men are incarcerated or on probation, not enough in college as science or engineering majors.

It seems that there may be a shortage in certain areas of the job market. Wheen looking at the job postings, the medical field still doesn't have enough people. Engineering is another area that there are tons of jobs for people.

As far as a labor shortage once the boomers retire, that may well not happen. Years ago when a person retired and started drawing Social Security Benefits, they could only make so much in a given year. Today, if a person retires at the stated age of the SSA charts you can work all you want to and collect SS and your paycheck with no limts.

will be interesting to see what happens with the boomers.


Principal
Holzschu, Jordan, Schiff & Associates
Human Resource Consultants www.hjsa.com

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