Work. . .and Make Retirement Work

When Andy and I first conceived the idea of “Make Retirement Work” the focus was on helping our fellow Baby Boomers make a smooth transition from work into retirement – not about employment, per se. However, now, over the course of the past three years, there have been some notable economic developments that have prompted a broader focus.  In fact, The Washington Post recently highlighted a report by Indeed.com that cites U.S. Labor Department data indicating that nearly 1.5 million retirees have reentered the workforce over the past year.

 There are a number of reasons for this surge in re-employment – not the least of which are economic considerations stemming from living on a fixed income in the midst of spiraling inflation.  And, not to be overlooked is the fact that some of us just plain miss working!  One might say that there has never been a better time for retirees to return to work.  Jobs are plentiful and there are compelling reasons to boost household income.  These factors line up almost perfectly for many Baby Boomers who are interested in returning to work.

 At the risk of reverting to conventional wisdom, we suggest first and foremost that retirees carefully and thoughtfully consider whether they really want to return to work – especially if it does not provide the level of freedom one desires in terms of work schedule and responsibilities.  In short, will you be able to work on your own terms? The good news is that there has never been such a high degree of flexibility in the workforce, but the bad news is that it is still….work. So we suggest proceeding with this process deliberately and with a degree of due caution.  The old adage of being careful what you wish for comes to mind.

 For those wishing to explore possibilities in addition to opportunities that might emerge form networking with former colleagues and new friends and acquaintances, the following online resources will be helpful: Indeed.com; CareerBuilder.com; RetirementJobs.com; Workforce50.com; and, of course, the AARP Job Board at jobs.aarp.org

Rick Hearin