Making The Most Of The New Retirement Frontier
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-08-22 15:23:00-04:00
How Wyoming And Boomer Can Benefit From AARP Predictions
Wyoming is poised for a major boom. This time it's not coal or natural gas, but it requires just as much planning.
By the year 2020 (some say as early as 2012), almost half of the state's population will be over the age of 50 and Wyoming will lead the nation in the percentage of residents over the retirement age. The change is occurring at a time when Wyoming is losing its young. This radical shift in demographics will have a major impact on the state's economy. With careful thought and preparation, it could produce very positive results.
Much of the current discussion about this demographic shift has centered on how to keep the state's youth here. AARP Wyoming would like to open the discussion to include the creation of a retirement industry that might tempt younger workers to stay and work in Wyoming. States like Florida and Arizona have seen major growth in all segments of their population since previous generations of retirees began flocking to their states.
AARP research shows that Baby Boomers, as they reach retirement in the next 10 to 20 years, don't want to retire the way their parents did. Florida and Arizona are not where they want to go--Colorado and Wyoming are where they want to be.
They want space, and access to places where they can be active, both in a group and by themselves. They like to mountain bike, hike, ski and fish. But tops on their quality of life wish list is access to continuing education.
Wyoming has all of this to offer, but it needs to be tweaked to fit the emerging need of Boomers.
Wyoming community colleges must begin to look at young retirees as a new customer base, and begin offering classes geared toward their needs. Most Wyoming community colleges offer "senior" courses, however, they are classes in beginning computer literacy and toned down athletics. Folks in their 50s and 60s want more. They want classes in comparative literature and Greek philosophy--things they might have missed in their youth or want to go back and revisit now that they have more time and perspective on life.
Wyoming also offers senior centers in each county. These centers provide a wonderful service to folks who need a little extra help so that they can stay at home rather than moving to a nursing home. In other states, these centers also offer all kinds of workshops that appeal to more active retirees, including silversmithing, tai chi and three-day backpacking trips.
The research also shows that Boomers want to work later in life, but not in traditional ways. Most surveyed say they want to continue working in their field of expertise, but they don't want the commitment of a traditional 40-hour work week and the responsibilities of being senior management. Employers will need to create shared jobs or part-time structures to take advantage of the expertise Boomers have to offer.
AARP Wyoming plans to gather the state's top decision makers to take part in a roll-up-your-shirt-sleeves session to discuss what the state and its businesses can do to make the most of this coming boom.
The session, tentatively planned for November 5, will be free and open to the public. Call (800) 550-0075 for more information.
preview