Don’t Retire, Rewire!
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
That’s the title of a book by Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners. She is interviewed in an article from the Battle Creek Enquirer. The book aims to help individuals prepare to plan for the future and leverage the opportunities that you have maybe instead of the traditional retirement.
The article was pretty interesting and presented a future of possibilities for the 50+ crowd.
Findings from AARP research suggests the number of workers age 50 and older is only going to increase. It is estimated that in 2012, nearly 20 percent of the workforce will be age 55 and older, an increase from 13 percent in 2000. Also, 68 percent of workers over the age of 50, who have not yet retired, say they plan to work in some capacity into their retirement years or not retire at all.
“Certain careers in Michigan, especially the healthcare and emerging technologies industries, are going to be experiencing a void, and we can help fill that gap with our 50 + workers,” Thomas E. Kimble, Executive Council Volunteer for Economic Security and Work for AARP Michigan, said. “It’s our job to prepare these workers for those career opportunities.”
… A rapidly growing number of people over 50 are thinking of retirement not as a time to quit work entirely, but as a chance to switch to work that better suits them and is more fulfilling. Many of them crave work that allows them to share their accumulated wisdom and stay engaged while paying some bills.
Read: Work at 50-Plus: New age of possibility and purpose, Battle Creek Enquirer
And really it’s not just the older workers who are shifting towards this idea of going back to a community college or school to relearn skills or to learn an entirely new set of skills. With the economy changing, there are plenty of people questioning whether their career choice was the right one.
The great thing about the 40+ worker is that you’ll have some of your retirement savings to support you and might be more able (due to finances, family situation, etc.) to go back and really consider a job that you just enjoy. Then again, maybe not everyone will be so fortunate. The point is that this is a time in your life to view as an opportunity and to really find out what new possibilities await you.