Posted on 04/02/2024 9:59:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Twilight zone
With markets rising, consumer confidence holding up, and a wave of companies enforcing return-to-office mandates, for many Americans, it seems like the perfect time to finally hang up their hats. Indeed, the US recorded 2.7 million more retirees in December than were predicted in models from economists at the St. Louis Federal Reserve, as reported by Bloomberg.
The recent upswing mirrors the ‘Great Retirement’ wave of 2020, when the pandemic saw the actual share of retirements swell and the labor force participation rate fall by 3.2% in the space of 2 months, the largest drop on record. However, rather than a deadly virus, what’s driving a significant portion of today’s retirees seems to be bolstered 401(k) balances.
Silver tsunami
With many already enjoying their golden years, a record 4.1 million people are set to celebrate their 65th birthday in the US in 2024 — as the mid-century baby boom ripples into a wave of present-day pensioners, dubbed the ‘silver tsunami’.
But, while there has been a spike in retirees, many in that age group aren’t looking to stop working any time soon. Indeed, over a longer time frame, the proportion of Americans aged 65+ who are employed has actually risen. A Pew Research study found that, 40 years ago, ~11% of Americans aged 65+ were working; today, it’s 19%... so there might still be a couple of years before the US hits peak retirement.
All the talent we have been losing to retirement are going to accelerate the rate of decay of quality across the board in America and in much of the Western nations.
“Estimated number of excess retirees”
Hmmm... I’m not retired but I am a member of that cohort.
“excess retirees”... not sure I’m comfortable with the way they put that. :-) :-) :-)
A lot of these so-called retirements were forced on people. Ageism became a real issue in the jobs market in the past 20 years, and a lot workers in their 50s and early 60s were phased out of the job market and pretty much blocked from other jobs within their career field.
>> A Pew Research study found that, 40 years ago, ~11% of Americans aged 65+ were working; today, it’s 19%
... because GenZero has neither the skills nor the work ethic to pick up the load!
>> a lot workers in their 50s and early 60s were phased out of the job market and pretty much blocked from other jobs within their career field.
On the other hand, a lot of ‘em went back to work as consultants and contractors, at more pay than when they worked full time for The Company. ROFL
Not the ones I saw back in California. "The Company" in many cases chose to move several programs staffed by the longer term employees out of state, while the remaining newer programs were staffed with younger employees.
Soylent Green is excess retirees!
California is an anomaly, in so many ways. ;-)
The last vestiges of the baby boom are aging out. They’ve passed through our demographic charts like a snake eating a bowling ball and they’re headed for the exit.
CC
I retired the month I turned 60. Next month will mark the 10th anniversary of my retirement and I still have zero regrets. Just wish I could have done it sooner. I don’t miss work one bit.
A country boy can survive.
All we need is a good
working shotgun, and sharp axe.
Boomers still know and
believe what it takes to
MAGA.
And we still kick some millennial butt in the workplace. Sorry, but it’s true. See it every day.
I’m part of the late boomer crowd. I don’t have the resources to quit working, but I don’t mind. I like doing what I’ve been doing the last 40 yrs, and hope to keep doing it til the kids take my car keys.
Bfl
I signed up for Socialist Insecurity early. I wanted to collect something before the whole Ponzi scam collapses.
Did you know that the events of that movie took place in 2022? Watching it as a kid it had me believing this was the future waiting for me!
And a lot of them overstayed their welcome and were able to deny opportunities to more qualified younger folks.
Especially given that it’s our central bankers making that classification!
No, don’t tell me: The models were—wrong!?!
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