10 Career Experts Share Their 2017 Baby Boomer Predictions

2017 Baby Boomer Predictions

It is January of 2017 and it is time to look to some experts for their predictions and prognostications for the coming year.

The impetus for this post came from the Hannah Morgan’s post 31 Experts Share Predictions for Job Search in 2017 where I threw in my 2 cents. However, a lot of these predictions target the general job market or even the biggest segment Gen Y. What about Baby Boomers?

I decided to ask 10 Career experts to provide their baby boomer predictions for 2017.

10 Expert Predictions for 2017

Ageism in the Workplace…

John Tarnoff, Reinvention Group LLC

LinkedIn: John Tarnoff

Ageism in the workplace may well be on the rise in 2017. While the new administration is focusing on jobs and the domestic economy, any uncertainty in the marketplace will likely make hiring managers nervous. And when that happens, long-standing biases come to the fore. An anti-regulation business climate may also embolden employers to disregard anti-discrimination rules when it comes to hiring older workers. As a result, boomers should work extra-hard on their business networking and personal connections – not only rely on resume submissions as the way to get a job.

The continuation of several established trends plus …

Neil Patrick, Neil Patrick Associates

LinkedIn: Neil Patrick

My predictions are that we will see the continuation of several established trends plus the arrival of several new ones arising from the anticipated actions of the new President.

Jobs growth will be strong in all areas relating to care for the aging population. Large financial institutions, manufacturers, and retailers will make many more layoffs of people.
The internet of things will grow fast. Native language (eg iOS, Android) computer coders, data security specialists, big data analysts, architects, and interpreters will be highly sought after.
Employment levels will rise, but incomes not so much. US wage growth will remain subdued as technology investments continue to be prioritized over people assets. Wealth inequality will continue to grow.
Large business owners will generally disinvest taking flight from risk and we’ll see several bigger corporate bankruptcies, probably in retail, vehicle manufacturing and/or leisure.
The gig economy will continue to expand and drive down incomes for workers. Silicon Valley startups will slow but more will succeed. Venture capital will become less easily available for tech startups as the investment community takes a more mature view of opportunities in this sector.
The level of digital media noise will increase. Job seekers will find it increasingly difficult to utilize social media in the job search unless they have advanced skills and an established online presence and also unless employers increase their understanding and intelligent use of social media.

Eighty to 90 percent of working Americans say…

Brie Reynolds, FlexJobs

Twitter: @briewreynolds

Eighty to 90 percent of working Americans say they would like to work remotely at least part-time. And 68 percent said they expect to work remotely instead of commute to an office every day.

In 2017, as more companies adopt remote work and more people share what it’s like to work remotely, we expect to see more people working this way. For baby boomers, this means more remote opportunities as they consider jobs in retirement. It may be that we are moving beyond the tipping point—where remote work is seen as a standard way of working rather than a perk.

I predict that baby boomers will do better than ever in 2017…

Jean Baur, Jean Baur Consulting

Listen to the most recent episode

Twitter: @coachauthor

I predict that baby boomers will do better than ever in 2017 because experience matters. Hiring managers understand that we bring our experience to work and this means better solutions, mentoring younger workers, a strong work ethic, and many other things. The catch is that baby boomers must show they’re with it–whether that’s the technology that’s needed for the job or other trends in an industry. And we must demonstrate that we’re energetic and excited about our work. No one wants to hire someone who is coasting. So get out there and be part of the solution!

The gig economy and remote/virtual work …

Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue

Twitter: @richeis315

The gig economy and remote/virtual work will become a more viable option. One reason: Look for growing numbers of startups specifically for gig and remote workers, such as the 2017 launch of ICON, a low-cost, universal retirement plan from the National Association of Retirement Plan Participants.

I expect to see more job movement among those who are voluntarily …

Nancy Collamer, Collamer Career Consulting

Twitter: @NancyCollamer

In 2017, I expect to see more job movement among those who are voluntarily seeking a job change, which should help increase the number of quality job opportunities. In this type of market, it’s more important than ever for boomers to make sure that their LinkedIn profiles are up-to-date to increase the likelihood of grabbing a recruiter’s attention when plum jobs become available. More importantly, the best jobs will go to those boomers who are willing to invest in upgrading their skills. Those who invest in getting up-to-speed with the latest skills and technologies will enjoy a clear advantage in the coming year.

Whatever your field, whatever your passion, it’s becoming …

Marci Alboher, Encore.org

Twitter: @heymarci

Whatever your field, whatever your passion, it’s becoming increasingly important to learn how to work well with people who are different from you. Those who regularly build relationships across race, class and age divides will have access to more opportunities and fresh ways of thinking. But these relationships don’t come easily. Bridging differences need to be an intentional activity. So network with your children or grandchildren, volunteer in a place where you’ll come into contact with new people, or find a younger mentor or teacher.

Jobs will find the job seekers who are visible to …

Susan Joyce, NETability, Inc.

LinkedIn: Susan Joyce

In 2017, jobs will find the job seekers who are visible to recruiters in Google and LinkedIn searches. Personal search engine optimization (“SEO”) and personal online reputation management are required for a successful job search.

Now, recruiters search Google and LinkedIn to find qualified job candidates. So baby boomers who are avoiding all online visibility won’t be found. Deadly!

Even job seekers who focus on applying for jobs online are wasting their time if they don’t have an online presence that supports the claims their resumes and job applications make. Recruiters trust that what is published publicly in a LinkedIn Profile is more accurate than a resume submitted privately.

Consequently, a solid, complete, keyword-rich LinkedIn Profile is essential for most professions. The name used on the resume/job application must match the name used on the LinkedIn Profile so recruiters can easily “connect the dots” between the two.

Perhaps you’re thinking of retiring abroad, or …

Phyllis Mufson, Catalyst for Personal & Professional Growth

LinkedIn, Phyllis Mufson

Perhaps you’re thinking of retiring abroad, or in a resort community in the tropics and you still want to work, what can you do? You don’t speak the language well enough to get a job, or there aren’t any jobs in your field there.

You might choose to work remotely like I did and like more and more adventurous seniors who are working on the phone and on their computers.

Remote work isn’t a new trend. Its popularity has been building for years. Now people trust that it will continue and are using it as a tool that allows them to buy homes and work in areas that were impractical before.

In my case, my husband wanted to retire and I didn’t, but we both wanted year-round warm weather and to spend a lot of time in and on the water. I trained as a coach. By the time we were ready to relocate to a resort community (where most of the jobs are in hospitality and retail) I had my own portable business, working on the phone.

Many of my new neighbors had used the same strategy for both jobs and small businesses. They include a web designer, graphic designer, insurance adjuster, health coach, human resources consultant, someone who interviews applicants for a leadership program, and several people who sell crafts and other products online.

Would this, could this be a strategy that would work for you?

Job search apps will become more …

Mark Anthony Dyson, The Voice of Job Seekers

Twitter, @MarkADyson

Job search apps will become more useful, powerful, and necessary. Employers will initially vet and connect with job seekers through employment apps based on merit than any physical identifying information. This will be a boost to baby boomers who are concerned about ageism during their job search or career change.

So what do you think? Write a comment below with your baby boomer predictions for 2017?

Marc Miller

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Comments

Arrmila Ramasawmy says
January 10, 2017 at 4:26 am

Thanks for the nice reading – arrmila.ramasawmy@mcbcs.mu, please send me interesting articles.

Felipe says
January 15, 2017 at 3:15 pm

An outstanding collection of career experts offering advice on navigating the treacherous employment ocean. Every expert had practical suggestions ????

Felipe says
January 15, 2017 at 3:20 pm

An outstanding collection of career experts offering advice on navigating the treacherous employment ocean. Every expert had practical suggestions ???? I notice no one recommended pursuing a college degree but an online certification from Lynda.com Coursera or Udacity may give you high career visibility.

- Marc Miller says
  January 15, 2017 at 7:08 pm
  
  Felipe,
  
  These are predictions and not recommendations.
  
  Marc
  
Walter says
March 26, 2017 at 6:51 pm

In my view, Marc, Recruiters really aren’t looking for experience but for price – salary. Too many Recruiters are getting squeezed big time. The getting 20 yrs. experience in a 28 yr. old with a M.S. is out. Hear too much about the ‘skills gap’. Its about getting you at the salary that they like; throw you in and hope you swim. I have read in Forbes and Fortune and WSJ that the U.S. has been known for Quality no Quantity. I see just too many of those who are managers, p;romoted into that position for ‘Optics’. They have been labeled part of the ‘Frat Boys Club’. More than anything, its a mentality. I am tired of getting Chinese Products that fall apart, steel that breaks in a week or two. You buy cheap many times over; Quality just doesn’t quit. We need all people in companies not just HR pushing Millenials for Optics. Look at Melissa Maher at Yahoo. Yahoo is a niche player and NOT a contender for Google.