Freelancing is definitely the coming thing. This was inevitable given the power of the internet to connect workers to "employers" from any location. Also adding to the trend is the desire on the part of companies to get work done without having to add employees.
It will take some time for the kinks to get ironed out but this is going to be Yuge.
I have noticed that tons of my friends of retirement age move directly from being active contributors to the working world to doing nothing (but traveling, golf, etc.). That is a huge brain drain on our economy.
Most if not all would love to work part-time in their chosen field and freelancing will give them the chance to do just that.
I think this will keep them happier and wealthier for longer...and our economy and society will be all the better for it.
As an aside, my mom and dad both lived to 94 and had a vast wealth of wisdom and knowledge to share but no real way to share it (except with me of course). They would have loved working a few hours a day online.
Now that Universal Basic Income has hit the mainstream media, I see more of them quitting to wait for their first UBI check.
Burned out after 2 years of work. I forgot snowflakes melt at very low temp. I am a boomer and far too young for the WWII generation and their legendary work ethic, but by the time I had graduated high school, I had 2 years work experience cutting neighbor’s lawns on the weekend. 2 years into college, I had worked 2 full summers and part time all through college as a waiter.
As my engineering career reaches 35 years, I find it very laughable that someone young is burned out on work after 2 years, unless they are stockbroker or CEO. I never had a bad Monday in my first 2 years of engineering and couldn’t wait for Monday to come around so I could hit the drafting table again. Loved my job.
I can’t imagine very many jobs where you could possibly get burned out after just 2 years. Bored, yes. Burned our from stress, pressure, competition, deadlines, commuting, and generally figthing the rat race in 2 yeas. No. Hell no. Only a snowflake would get burned out that quickly.
To millennials, the “future”, is tomorrow or the next day...that’s it!
They are so convinced that “socialism” (read: government) will solve all their problems, they’re the grasshoppers, instead of the ants.
Someday they will be too old to “freelance”; cutting lawns and being a greeter at Walmart will only get you so far.
The Generation that is also pushing Socialism. I wonder why?
Perhaps they just don’t want to work, never had to. Instead they were brainwashed by their Parents and the Education Establishment into believing that Socialism is a great idea and they deserve a life time of the Government providing their every need...
Here’s the flipside I’ve seen somewhat.
“My dream job is working as an activist or saving the world through a non-profit. I took the job and found I can’t afford to pay my loans and/or have a kid. So I have to quit my low paying dream job and work for a hated corporation so I can afford to live.”
Is living in Hawaii the best place to be doing this?
>>Whew! At least paying back college loans is no longer a problem.<<
And they can bookend that with working their “best life” jobs until they die after never having owned a house or even a car. Who needs to retire? Just work. Forever. And ever.
They’re still not hiring people over 50. Ageism is the last bias being tolerated.
I see nothing wrong with this. It is after all their life. I hope their choices are the right ones. Sometimes what look like bad choices turn out to be great choices.
That was my first thought as well!
Also, it's nice to know that the rent will get paid. They will pay the rent, won't they? I'm sure they will.
Seriously, I do think the traditional 9-5 Monday-Friday job is starting to go away and that many employers are electing to go with a consultant "temp" approach to their workforce which will allow them to temporarily hire more "consultants" during peak times (or for special projects) and let consultants go during slow times.
Whether or not that is a good trend remains to be seen.
I have one retirement check already, now working on my second check. Plan on retiring at age 59 after my house is paid off. Would have retire earlier if I known what I know now, how to save money.
Life is short, if you wait until 67, you might not be able to do the things you want due to health.
Sitting at work, he says, he saw his whole life flash before his eyes: 50-hour work weeks with a measly 10 days of vacation every year — and he didn’t like it one bit.
Frankly, I don't really know what to say. There aren't many white-collar jobs where someone like this is employable.
In my experience, working full-time for yourself is a harder grind than working for an employer. Perhaps more rewarding, but harder work. To butcher a metaphor...the need to make hay while the sun shines is only oustripped by the worry that comes when the sun isn't shining.
Nothing new
My ex would work for two to two and a half years at a place. Then he’d quit and take six to nine minutes months off. Did it through out his working career
Burned out?? Did they have to show up before 9:00am, maybe work three days this week??
I won’t be able to retire until 2 years after I’m dead.