Aging Workforce Outline

Outline Goals and Objectives

I. Who is the aging workforce?

II. Identify the effects an aging workforce will have on business growth and productivity.

III. Illustrate how an aging workforce and management can use available technology to retain its aging workforce.

IV. What are other businesses doing to keep older employees from retiring?

I. Who is the aging workforce?

a. Baby Boomers

* Baby Boomers Defined: "The 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964." (Mosner, Spiezle, & Emerman, 2003, p. 1)

"The makeup of the labor force has slowly changed over the past 50 years, and significant changes are coming. This demographic shift has been exacerbated by the trend of early retirement of the baby boom generation." (Lockwood, 2003, p.
Illustrate how an aging workforce and management can use available technology to retain its aging workforce.

It is common to find information workers in all economic sectors. Occupations range from air traffic controllers and financial analysts, to rank and file factory employees, field service representatives, rental car agents and delivery people who use wireless reporting and tracking devices. (Mosner et al., 2003, p. 9-10)

a. The Digital Workplace and the Information Worker

"As the U.S. has become an information-dependent society, technology has rapidly become a common fixture in the workplace. More and more occupations are becoming information-based, opening new employment opportunities for many Americans. " (Mosner et al., 2003, p. 9)

What are other businesses doing to keep older employees from retiring?

b. "Recommended strategic ideas for management.

i. Identify potential gaps and knowledge transfer needs

ii. Broaden succession planning thinking

iii. Check communications mechanisms and messages for intergenerational
Offer benefits of interest to mature workers such as long-term care insurance, pre-retirement planning, health and wellness programs, comprehensive medical coverage, including prescription drugs, health coverage for retirees and part-time workers, prorated benefits for employees on flexible work schedules."

Some industries are more concerned with the exodus if the baby boomers from the workforce. Expressing major concerns, are the technology and pharmaceuticals industries, about the introduction of new products and services to forecast the loss of experienced engineers, key account sales representatives and senior managers. (The Conference Board, 2005, p. 2)

References

Lockwood, N. R. (2003, December). The aging workforce: the reality of the impact of older workers and eldercare in the workplace. HR Magazine, , 1-20. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_12_48/ai_n5989579

Mosner, E., Spiezle, C., & Emerman, J. (2003, July). The Convergence of the Aging Workforce And Accessible Technology. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http://www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/convergence.aspx

The Conference Board (2005, September 19). America 's Aging Workforce Posing New Opportunities and Challenges for Companies. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from