As the construction sector stares down a long dark tunnel of shortages in experienced and qualified people it may find some comfort in the familiar. Those 50-year-old-and-up employees who have kept their vibrancy and can-do attitudes probably still have a lot of work life left in them. In fact recent studies show those approaching retirement aren’t so sure they really want their retirement to be what their parents’ was. According to an AARP survey and report:

• Only one percent see age as a barrier to achieving their goals;
• Sixty-three percent feel younger than their actual age;
• Thirty-seven percent plan to "work until I drop," and 14 percent who aren’t working plan on going back to work;
• Seventy-nine percent expect to work in some capacity during their retirement years
• Twenty-four percent would like to work part time doing the same work they currently do.

In its June 1, 2008 report abstract, Packaged Facts says those in the group commonly referred to as the baby boomers expect to stay in the workforce far past 65 and are expected to change traditional ideas about age, work and leisure activities. Boomers are not just an American phenomena as it seems the UK also has them. There, according to a Management-Issues post, 58 percent of those in their 50s and 60s plan to work in some capacity beyond retirement.

So assuming you want to hang onto them in order to keep the ranks filled out, just what do they want? One report by Sarah Vickerstaff at the University of Kent, UK, took a global view and looked at older worker attitudes from various countries. She found these individuals near retirement wanted more control over what they do and how they do it. They also had a strong preference for having part-time and flexible work options available to them.

In this report AARP points out that older employees besides wanting the extra money, also want to work for enjoyment, to have something interesting to do, and to stay physically and mentally active. Forty-eight percent wanted to keep working to learn new things and almost thirty percent wanted to continue working to pursue their dreams.

Smart company owners and managers are probably already asking questions to find out what might keep their upcoming retirees on the job just a bit longer.

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