The recession jolted our nation at its very core. Like a tidal wave crashing to shore, it cast a dirty cloud of fear and gloom on the American persona. Ask anybody, “What concerns you most about your career and the state of business today?”  The responses I hear reflect worry, anger and disapproval – with only a glimmer of optimism.

“In this economy, everything is a concern,” said a young professional about to launch his career. Others reply: “I’m concerned about negative attitudes, a lack of consumer credit, and the severe shortage of jobs.”  Continue reading…

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Social and Demographic Trends shows that 93% of the growth in the US work force from 2006 to 2016 will be among older workers, ages 55 and older. While these “older adults” are working longer, younger adults are staying out of the work force longer. These trends have intensified during the recession and are expected to continue.

Interestingly, older workers are more satisfied with their jobs: 54% of those age 65 and older say they are completely satisfied, compared to 29% of workers age 16 to 64. And 68% of older workers say are working because they want to feel useful and productive, not because they need to.

What are the implications of this unexpected trend? Continue reading…