Boomer Labor Shortage Threatens Critical Sectors; Age Lessons Proposes ''Skills Brokerage'' Concept To Guarantee Labor Supply, Save Industries.CHICAGO -- Baby Boomer baby boomer also ba·by-boom·er n. A member of a baby-boom generation. Noun 1. baby boomer - a member of the baby boom generation in the 1950s; "they expanded the schools for a generation of baby boomers" boomer retirements and a too-small baby bust baby bust n. A sudden decline in the birthrate, especially the one in the United States from about 1961 to 1981. ba generation (12 million fewer workers per retired Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Alan Greenspan Dr. Greenspan is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Greenspan also serves as Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed's principal monetary policymaking body. ) will conspire con·spire v. con·spired, con·spir·ing, con·spires v.intr. 1. To plan together secretly to commit an illegal or wrongful act or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action. 2. to create a brain drain brain drain n. The loss of skilled intellectual and technical labor through the movement of such labor to more favorable geographic, economic, or professional environments. of unprecedented proportions starting in less than four years according to Laurel Kennedy, president of Age Lessons, the Baby Boomer solutions firm. "Vulnerable sectors such as air traffic control, health care and the government should tap into the older worker pool, keeping these valuable personnel employed beyond age 65. One retention mechanism would be to re-purpose professional groups and trade associations as "Skills Brokerages" that match qualified workers to employer needs and maintain performance standards." Age Lessons Consultant Tom Conley, a long-time association executive and former President of the National Housewares house·wares pl.n. Cooking utensils, dishes, and other small articles used in a household, especially in the kitchen. Manufacturers Association and Toy Industry Association The Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) is the not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, representing over 500 companies who account for approximately 85% of domestic toy sales. , concurs. "Older workers may prove to be the lifeline that reinvigorates associations, giving them a renewed purpose and the ability to access an entire generation of workers for a longer period of time, capturing revenue from membership dues and fees associated with continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). , certification and placement activities." More than 80% of Boomers intend to work during retirement, but no mechanism currently exists for plugging them into the employment picture once retired. At the same time, associations are struggling in the post 9/11 environment, losing revenue streams as exhibit and destination-based programs get re-directed to the Web for convenience, safety and cost-cutting reasons. Conley added," Morphing into Skills Brokerages would transform associations into more relevant entities capable of responding to the employer and Boomer need for more flexible and creative employment options." For more information about the Skills Brokerage concept and other Age Lessons working retirement solutions, contact Laurel Kennedy at 773.252.0123 or visit the company web site www.agelessons.com. About Age Lessons Age Lessons offers innovative solutions addressing the unique needs of the Baby Boomer cohort including working retirement programs designed to help companies retain and attract mature workers such as LinkAGEs(TM), as well as BoomerView(TM) audits that evaluate advertising messages, packaging and product designs against Boomer normative benchmarks. Laurel Kennedy, Age Lessons president, is writing a book about Boomer women and elder care, proposing actionable ideas for employers, government agencies and local communities. |
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