What kind of work will baby boomers choose to do when they leave their primary careers behind? The MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey released today suggests a surprising number will opt for work that makes a meaningful contribution to society. The survey found that “a surprisingly large number of people between the ages of 44 and 70 are already doing work that combines income and personal meaning with social impact. These individuals—5.3 to 8.4 million of them—have moved from the end of midlife careers not to leisure-based retirements, but to new stage of work for the greater good, a stage of work that Civic Ventures has come to call the “encore career.”

The survey also pointed to the possibility that the number of people choosing encore careers could grow rapidly. Of those between 44 and 70 not already in encore careers, half say they are interested in moving into jobs in such fields as education, health care, government, and the nonprofit sector.

Why is the interest so strong? According to the report:

Several mutually reinforcing interests are leading boomers toward encore careers. Survey findings show that the primary motivations include a desire to stay active, productive, challenged and learning. More than a third of those in encore careers and those interested in them cite practical needs for continuing income and health benefits. A majority are looking for “flexibility in the work that they do.

Beyond these general interests, choosing work for the common good re”ects the desire of those in encore careers and those interested in them in !nding work that provides both meaning and accomplishment. More than half (54%) of those in encore careers and two-thirds (64%) of those interested say it is very important to them to use their skills and experience to help others.

Civic Ventures points to several moves employers and policy makers could take to further stimulate encore career development. These include providing access to affordable healthcare in the “Medigap” years leading up t age 65, ending financial penalties for continuing to work and providing education and training for new careers.

New York Times coverage of the study is here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 10:00 am and is filed under Careers, Non-profits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.