By Eileen Marcus
According to a new study by the Center for Work-Life Policy, "Bookend Generations: Leveraging Talent and Finding Common Ground," 62 percent of working Boomers expect to stay in the labor force for at least another nine years. Through 2020, 80 percent of the native-born workforce growth in North America — and even more in Western Europe — will be from employees over age 50, many due to economic need and just as many because they like their jobs.
Center blogger Sylvia Ann Hewlett says smart employers will need to retool to take advantage of Boomers' drive, experience and talents and refers to the “rewards remix” – a challenging dynamic for talent managers where cash is no longer the prime motivator; good news for companies looking to reduce their salary burden. Perhaps older workers will become more sought after as their “experiential” rewards are less expensive than raises and bonuses. Once again, they’re looking for a revolution.