September 25, 2007
American boomers embark on new midlife careers
MIAMI, FL -- A revolution may be changing the nature of work and retirement in the United States -- people who, instead of fading from the workforce in midlife, are embarking on second careers. The second half of life would thus be a source of social and individual renewal.
The notion that 50-plus Americans are an untapped resource is gaining attention. At the age of retirement, more and more baby boomers decide to begin a new career. Many of them are looking for more than a paycheck. Forty years after coming of age in the tumultuous '60s, they want meaningful work. Some even decide to go back to school in order to finally have the job they were dreaming off during their youth.
Corporations and nonprofits will have to change if they want to benefit from Boomers' talents. They don't want the hassle of certain things, like having to drive through rush-hour traffic to engage in volunteer work. For many of them, opening a business is the best way to get the flexibility and control they want. The most important thing for all boomers who embarked on a new career is to be happy with their new job.
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