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The Forum > Article Comments > The challenge of the flipping age pyramid > Comments

The challenge of the flipping age pyramid : Comments

By Malcolm King, published 6/3/2012

The way we are ageing our workforce could be a competitive advantage against Europe.

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An excellent analysis Malcolm and a subject, which should enjoy more debate. Despite statements, by companies about being "an equal opportunity employer" discrimination still exists for aged and would-be employees. Many of the older generation, myself included, have invested in university education in our advanced years, in order to keep working. There are many computer literate boomers just waiting in the wings to use their newly earned skills, just to keep ahead of rising living costs. Not everyone is wrapped in a cloak of superannuation and many are doing it tough. What is required now is for your thoughts to reach the public domain and to allow common sense to take over.
Posted by David Leigh, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 9:32:58 AM
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Yes, a great idea for folk to work as long as they want, & even perhaps need to, but we have one minor problem, too many of the boomers, in the income bracket you say are most likely to need to work, are just not capable of doing so. This is also the skill area where we are most in need.

We have plenty of young ones who can push a pen, & in fact, many who expected to be pushing pens are flipping burgers. Many of the smarter tradies moved into pen pushing years ago, & can not go back on the tools, as their aging bodies can't handle it.

Yes I know that today we seem to need 3 pen pushers, [oh & a public servant] to oversee every one productive worker, but the balance is getting a long way out.

I recently caught a couple of aging self employed tradie mates discussing liniments at a bar b que. I suggested that there should be something more interesting they could talk about. The younger one, probably not quite 60 answered, "when you get up in the morning, & know you've got to walk across to the shed in a few minutes, the most important thing on earth is how well the liniment you used last night worked". I doubt either of them will make it to 65 still working the tools, let alone anything past that.

So Malcolm you are going to have to find some kids for these old blokes to teach their trades to, because teaching is all many are good for.

Let the old blokes go back that caravan, while they still can. Like me, many are busy learning a new skill. How to back that van, the trucky way, using the rear view mirrors. Not because we want to look smart, but because we can't get our necks to work well enough to look over our shoulders any more. Back on the tools, get real.
Posted by Hasbeen, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 11:54:53 AM
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The boomers will work as long as they want to. They've always done what they wanted anyway.

The problem is when they leave work without getting a second or third opinion re how much money they need to retire. Underestimating that is a dire mistake.

When they find they have to go back to work, they run in to the wall of age discrimination - mainly young female recruiters who think 40 is 'past it'. They're also not tough enough to stand up to employers.

I agree with Hasbeen. Most 60 plus won't go back on the tools. The body just can't take 40 or 50 years of tough work. Ditto working on the line in factories. Part time is the way to go but also some form of remedial physio through work and dare I say it, some form of recognition re mentoring to help them pass on their trade. You can't buy skills. They have to be learnt.
Posted by Cheryl, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 12:14:56 PM
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Those of us living under the "grey ceiling" are looking forward to a workplace where all the power roles are not hogged by boomers.
Rather than holding back career progress for another decade...how about starting your own businesses? Flexible hours, chance to impart leadership...How about boomer small business grants to assist the process?
The boomers deserve a chance for meaningful work and an end to their careers...the rest of us deserve a chance to escape the conservative authority that has stifled the sub-boomer generations!
Regressive economics, growing censorship, greed worship and anti-progress are all signs of the boomer bulge. Can we avoid a Japan type social crisis?
Posted by Ozandy, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 12:26:45 PM
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The advantage the older gentlemen have is being able to live on the pension and tour AU at the same time. It's easy for most because they have never had the barrow load of wages to start with. Everything was done by your means, and not instantly with your credit card.
I will stay as is, and watch the sunshine pass overhead.
Posted by 579, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 12:33:23 PM
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Ozandy "how about starting your own businesses? Flexible hours,".

Where did you get that Idea from? Most people who run small businesses these days are run ragged and don't even get time for a holiday.

David
Posted by VK3AUU, Tuesday, 6 March 2012 4:54:50 PM
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