Five Myths About Landing a Good Job Later in Life; Conventional Wisdom is wrong

Wall Street Journal ^ | 11/29/2016 | By ANNE TERGESEN

[SeekAndFind]

There’s a stereotypical view of job opportunities for older workers, and it’s not pretty.

It goes something like this. If you’re past 50 and thinking of a career switch, forget it. The opportunities for older workers in the new economy are pretty much nonexistent. And you’re in even worse shape if you’re in your 50s or 60s and retired but want to get back into the workforce in a job that is both challenging and financially rewarding. The only spots available are low-skilled and low-paying—whether that’s burger flipper, Wal-Mart greeter or Uber driver.

Boy, have a lot of people have been misinformed.

The numbers make it clear that the nightmare scenario simply isn’t true. The 55-and-older crowd is now the only age group with a rising labor-force participation rate, even as age discrimination remains a problem for many older job seekers. Workers age 50 or older now comprise 33.4% of the U.S. labor force, up from 25% in 2002. And more than 60% of workers age 65 or older now hold full-time positions, up from 44% in 1995.

In addition, a large part of the long-term increase in employment growth has come from skilled jobs in professional-services industries, according to a 2013 academic paper. Another study found that from 1996 to 2012, just 1.4% of job seekers in their early to mid 50s landed in “old person” occupations—typically “low-paying, low-status” jobs in which older hires outnumber younger hires by at least 2 to 1.

[OriginalChristian]

Ping.

[bicyclerepair]

I was fundamentally transformed from a 10 year full-time job to being a temp. Can’t live on it, but better than nothing.

[SeekAndFind]

Myth 1: I’m not going to find a good job.
REALITY: Baby boomers are getting jobs with better pay, status and working conditions than prior generations of older workers.

Myth 2: You can’t take time off, or you’ll never get back into the workforce
REALITY: About 40% of people who retire take a break and then return to work, typically within two years.

Myth 3: I’m not going to make as big of a contribution as I did in the past.
REALITY: Older workers can play a more vital role than ever.

Myth 4: The only type of work available to older applicants is part time.
REALITY: Since 1995, the number of people age 65 or older working full time has more than tripled.

Myth 5: The chance to be an entrepreneur has passed me by.
REALITY: Americans in their 50s and 60s make up a growing share of entrepreneurs.

[baltimorepoet]

Could be employers don’t want to hire as much from the “participation award” snowflake generation.

[OrangeHoof]

Happy talk to disguise the reality that folks in their 50s and 60s *have* to work because of Obamanomics and the young are getting doors slammed in their faces because too many are on drugs or don’t have a positive work history.

A nice scenario if you wanna make $15/hr screaming at Soros-financed protest rallies.

[cicero2k]

As I enter this group, I am actively sought by recruiters in consulting. However, want to start social security. Many friends are still working in their fields, only exception: my wife who was an RN. I find that the rigors of nursing make for on-time or early retirement.

[Az Joe]

Ok, well...

Now where is that arsenic I bought 7 or 8 years ago?

[knarf]

I was fundamentally transformed by failing eyes, ears, muscles and bladder

[SeekAndFind]

[DesertRhino]

“The 55-and-older crowd is now the only age group with a rising labor-force participation rate,”

That happens after a decade or so of near zero interest rates because the governmental hog is so deep in debt that the Fed has to keep them near zero. The bastards have wrecked the economy and people are scrambling to find what they can do to survive.

[DesertRhino]

But nice spin WSJ.

[Farmer Dean]

An experienced older person just wants to get the job done.
The snowflakes want to argue.
Who do you think will get hired?

[Mariner]

I work for a VERY large tech company here in CA.

At least 1/2 of workers and managers are over 50. Gray beards as far as the eye can see, knocking down substantial salary.

However, a large percentage of new workers come from other countries on H-1B.

[Mr. Douglas]

And more than 60% of workers age 65 or older now hold full-time positions, up from 44% in 1995.

---

That’s what’s known as a statistic. It needs context. i.e. how many of those jobs are, in fact, burger flipper jobs. I know a guy that was a very well paid corporate sales executive that was laid off. After two years of job searching, he ended up working the floor at Lowes. Full time.

[Nifster]

The WSJ is sooooo out of touch

[Az Joe]

Whoops.. misread article. Forget the arsenic.

[Harpotoo]

Yeah I see them all the time at Home Depot, Walmart, Target, etc... Being 59 that scares me but if I lose my J O B I’m going to invest in myself (dye my hair) and go to Coder Camp:-)

[Mr. Douglas]

I’m an IT contractor. I actually make more than the employees. Of course, I don’t get their perks, but I prefer it this way. At 63, people love bringing someone like me as a contractor, but they would rather not hire someone so old.

[faithhopecharity]

WSJ lies. There are almost No jobs except mcD, taco stand, uber, and street-rioting / breaking windows for soroz.