Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Not in my profession Carpenter all our projects are manned with grey haired craftsmen like me.Young people are steered away from physical labor.Will be a problem when we all retire.Me in 3 years but the sidework will keep my in shape and in $$$
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,585 posts, read 81,225,683 times
Reputation: 57822
No, the old people make room for the younger people. We have about 1,900 employees and the average age is 50. While we had about a dozen retirements in the last year, there will be many more in the next 5-15 years as many of us reach 65-70. Meanwhile, we are still hiring new employees in their 50s, and even 60s in the top management positions. I have an opening now, entry level at about $23/hour and of the 27 applicants so far, based on college dates and work records I would say that the ages range from 22-40. I'll be hiring the best person for the job, regardless of age.
I think it depends on what field you're talking about, and maybe the area of the country/world. I'm 69 years old, and still work in IT, but I'm one of those who's kept his skills up to date. I plan on continuing to do so for a couple more years before I cut back on hours and supplement my social security, pension, and savings with freelance work. Only reason I'm doing so is to get out of the corporate rat race.
The oldsters who get into difficulty are those who know one thing well, and don't want to learn anything else. Stay flexible and up to date and you'll continue to find employment. It might be more difficult if you retire then want to come back -- but in a field like IT, that has more to do with your skills being out of date than anything. I get consulting gig inquiries every week from recruiters who have clients interested in my skill set.
Some are wise and take advantage of the experience of the "old people" on their payroll; while others see the goal of the company as being one ongoing social event and the "younger" employees being more in line with their vision.
Have seen first hand an "old" employee literally pushed out the door because she didn't fit in with the younger set. Very sad.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
