Friday, June 17, 2005
Boomers want to aid others
Half of people in their 50s and 60s want to do work that helps others, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The trend was even more pronounced among people aged 51-59, as 58 percent of those so-called leading-edge Baby Boomers said they want to take jobs that serve their communities.
"Work and volunteering, two pursuits usually held in opposition, were being combined in the minds of a lot of people, almost like a social Prius," said Marc Freedman, president of Civic Ventures, a San Francisco nonprofit group that works to expand the social contribution of older Americans. "This (is a) hybrid notion of the continued income and seriousness/structure of work at the same time focusing on the spirit of service."
The survey also contradicts images of the Baby Boomers as self-centered.
"This reframes the question of whether this will be the 'Me generation' or the 'We generation' in a way that is more promising," Freedman said.
Jobs in education and social services were two of the three types of work mentioned most often by people surveyed, with retail as the third. Among the 53 percent who said they want to work in retirement, more than three quarters expressed interest in working to help the poor, the elderly and others in need, while 56 percent were interested in dealing with health issues and 55 percent in teaching.
People surveyed said connection with others and a feeling of purpose were very important work motivations. But even while desiring socially worthwhile second careers, many of those surveyed worried they would be difficult to find. For that reason, 60 percent strongly supported giving a tax credit to older Americans who work in schools or social services, and almost half strongly supported tax credits and increased funding to help train older Americans for such fields.
Source: MetLife/Civic Ventures
Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, June 17, 2005
E-mail Carolyn Said at csaid@sfchronicle.com.
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