H
ealthier and more active than
previous generations, "baby
boomers" are expected to con-
tinue making a contribution to North
County's economy for years after reaching
the traditional retirement age of 65.
Employers are coming to realize that
older workers have the experience and
knowhow to perform jobs that people new
to the workplace can't match, said Ted
Owen, president and CEO of the Carlsbad
Chamber of Commerce.
"Age makes a difference when it comes
to the kind of people you're looking for,"
Owen said. "Employers don't have the
time to bring in a young person with little
experience and spend an exorbitant
amount of time training them."
Baby boomers are the demographic pop-
ulation bulge that occurred following
World War II. Approximately 78 million
Americans were born between 1946 and
1964. By 2030, greater than 20 percent of
the nation's residents are projected to be
age 65 or older, according to a report in
U.S. News.
Owen acknowledged some businesses
believe that seniors are too expensive to
hire. However, successful companies rec-
ognize that their experience is valuable.
The Value of Older Workers
He cited the example of ViaSat, Inc. a
Carlsbad-based producer of satellite and
other digital communication products. The
company has more than 1,000 employees
in North County, Owen said. "They have a
lot of veterans because they know the
value of experience."
As North County's manufacturing base
continues to grow, Owen expects local com-
panies to hire boomers to serve as managers.
"An older guy or gal has a proven track
record," Owen said.
Boomers who find themselves displaced
from the workforce may be discouraged by
not being able to find a job that pays as
much as their last one. However, if they're
willing to take a pay cut to keep working
they will find that they can work their way
back up the payroll ladder, Owen asserted.
Liliane Choney, executive director of the
nonprofit Revisions Resources senior ad-
NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL
x
FALL 2015
x
sdnedc.org
GOLDEN OLDIES
n BABY BOOMERS ARE SET TO MAKE MAJOR IMPACT ON NORTH COUNTY'S ECONOMY
BY eMMeT pierce
<< Robert De Niro is a baby boomer
dissatisfied with retirement who takes an
internship in the new movie "The Intern."
l
SPECIAL REPORT
fi
