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2007 Crystal Ball Predictions For - And About - The Mature Workforce

In 2005, I predicted that Spherion would enjoy a national employer status with AARP in 2006. Watch for a “special edition” of Hot Topics that will support our anticipated official announcement and, simultaneously, demonstrate our strengthened commitment to placing, developing and retaining experienced, mature workers.

In 2005, I predicted that phased retirement would be a mainstream retention strategy in 2006. I missed my bet but this was the ONLY prediction I missed last year. I am now re-predicting this for 2007!

2007 is the year that mature “specialists” will begin to dominate the temporary job market. They will teach, mentor and transfer specialized knowledge to the next generations. Beyond this similarity to past “masters” they will expand their specializations and bring a new level of creativity to “work.”

The search for young talent will heat up in 2007 and employers will be forced to increase their reliance upon part-time, project or temporary talent of all ages. This is opportunity knocking for mature workers who have specialized talent and experience to contribute. (See previous “crystal ball.”)

Record numbers of mature students will flood our universities and institutions of higher learning. Some universities will begin to see the possibilities that extended studies will, one day, outperform income from undergraduate studies. A concerted effort will be made by these institutions to attract continuing students in 2007.

The battle over social entitlements will heat up in 2007 and will turn RED HOT late in the year. Boomers will pay closer attention to outcomes as 10,000 boomers turn 50 each and every day. One in three will face retirement with no money except for social entitlements. All face the probability of significantly longer lifetimes.

Healthcare jobs will lead all other opportunities in 2007. In a recent survey conducted by AARP, 32 of the 50 best employers for workers over 50 were in the healthcare industry. Beyond healthcare, telecommuting will take another giant step forward and the temporary agency business will flourish.

Canadian and Australian versions of “Boom or Bust” will be published in 2007. We are not the only aging nation in the world. Highly regarded co-authors from these countries will join us in creating regional versions of the book.

Spherion’s e-learning services will continue to expand in 2007. In the first quarter we will offer our all-new, highly targeted and uniquely configured phased retirement & early retirement services for mature workers. We are proud to be at the forefront of mid to late-career education in America.

Litigation, based on age discrimination, will accelerate in 2007. As mature workers linger between jobs following layoffs, sheer numbers dictate that lawsuits will soon follow as 10,000 boomers turn 50 and 8,000 baby boomers turn 60 each and every day.

The effects – for better and worse - of globalization will continue as high tech SERVICE jobs join the march overseas. And… large numbers of recent college grads will begin to leave this country to live and work in other countries. Jobs will be back-filled here by the mature workforce.

In spite of the housing market slump, mature Americans will continue to leave home for the mountains in the West or the mild climate in the South. These folks, and others, will use the Internet to work remotely.

My wish for you in 2007 is that you will be blessed with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

(Source: A variation on a Franciscan prayer I read once-upon-a-time.)

See you in the New Year.
Carleen