Be sure to checkout this fascinating article from Harvard Business Publishing’s Tammy Erickson on the “project-based workforce.”
Erickson argues that modern generations have decided they will likely work indefinitely (no more retirement) because the benefits of working so outweigh those of leisure. For example, Erickson estimates that “today, more than three-quarters of adults approaching retirement say they plan to continue working in some capacity.”
Whether or not that that figure is true, it’s an important shift in the work culture thinking. Erickson continues on explaining that retired baby boomers are frequently moving into “cyclical working arrangements” where they work full-time on projects, and once complete, move into a period of leisure time before starting the next project. In particular, the boomers are expected to do this for their entire life, rotating from work to vacation every few months.
This change in attitude is in part attributed to a talent shortage in specific industries, as well as a changing corporate structures that allows people to temporarily join a company for a project, leaving when it’s complete. This creates an interesting opportunity for a community of baby boomers contract workers. Coupled with recent innovations in social tools, there is significant opportunity for a new breed of worker to emerge. For those familiar with Tim Ferriss and the Four-Hour Work Week, you know that such a project-based lifestyle when managed and delegated properly can still lead to massive amounts of productivity. So, come on Boomers, it’s time to get more involved in the web 2.0 space!