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About OASIS Mission News releases eNewsletter Job opportunities Organization The OASIS Institute History Highlights Sponsors Board members Financial statements Link to us Contact us			News Survey Finds Older Americans, Baby Boomers Want Jobs With a Purpose Most leading-edge baby boomers are ready for careers of service, now and in retirement, according to the MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey. The survey finds that this group of boomers, age 50 to 59, is thinking seriously about giving back to their communities, as are their contemporaries who are just a few years older. The relationship between work and retirement isn't what it used to be, i.e., mutually exclusive. This new survey of Americans age 50 to 70 finds that they do not expect to, or want to, put their feet up and not work at all in retirement, a finding consistent with earlier research. Fifty percent of adults age 50 to 70 say they are interested in taking jobs now or in the future to help improve the quality of life in their communities. Leading edge baby boomers are especially interested, with 58% saying they would consider taking jobs that would serve their communities. Twenty-one percent are very interested in taking a job in an organization or program that serves the community, and 37 percent are somewhat interested. This interest in finding good work does not stop at the crossroads of retirement. Half of all Americans age 50 to 70 (49%) say it is important that work in retirement help the community in specific ways. These are among the key findings from a new nationwide telephone survey of 1,000 adults age 50 to 70 in the United States, conducted March 7 through April 11, 2005, by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. There is overwhelming interest in finding specific types of work in retirement that would serve the community and people in need. Among Americans who may work in retirement (53% of all adults age 50 to 70): 78% are interested in working to help the poor, the elderly, and other people in need. 56% are interested in dealing with health issues, whether working in a hospital or with an organization fighting a particular disease. 55% percent are interested in a teaching or other educational position. 45% percent are interested in working in a youth program. The survey asked those who indicated they plan to work in retirement to be very specific about what jobs they think they would do. The open-ended responses vary enormously, with two out of the three jobs mentioned most often qualifying as good work. Ten percent mention retail jobs, but 8 percent mention working in education and another 8 percent mention working in social services. Other research suggests that the nation is facing a shortage of professionals in many of these jobs helping others, including nursing and teaching. After working lives that stretch 35 years and more, why would Americans age 50 to 70 want to continue working? The incentives are varied, from personal satisfaction to the need for additional income, from the desire to help their community to the desire to help those in need. Four aspects of work are very important to most adults age 50 to 70 who are considering working in retirement: Staying involved with other people (59%) A sense of purpose (87%) Additional income (52%) The opportunity to help improve the quality of life in their community (48%) Americans age 50 to 70 are ready now to pitch in and help with the challenges facing their communities, whether those challenges are in the area of education, health care, or caring for those in need. With leading-edge baby boomers out in front, these Americans are interested in the possibility of finding work, now and in retirement, that would allow them to work in organizations committed to repairing and strengthening their communities. The full report is available on the Civic Ventures website. OASIS News Releases April 28, 2008 OASIS Video to be Broadcast on National Television April 1, 2008 OASIS Receives $2.5 Million from The Atlantic Philanthropies Supporting Business Plan for Expansion October 10, 2007 OASIS Marks 25th Anniversary at National Conference, unveils five-year business plan to increase its impact March 14, 2007 AT&T Foundation Makes $1 Million Technology Grant to The OASIS Institute March 7, 2007 OASIS Receives National Leadership Award from NCOA February 8, 2007 OASIS Plans to Expand Programs to Reach a Broader Audience Atlantic Philanthropies Grant To Support Expansion Plan February 5, 2007 OASIS Institute Names Five Centers of Excellence for 2007-08 November 6, 2006 Marylen Mann Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University October 30, 2006 OASIS Institute Receives National Award from HHS for Promoting Healthy Lifestyle August 2, 2006 New Research Shows Active Living Every Day a Success at Activating Sedentary Adults June 21, 2006 Four New Directors Elected to the Board of The OASIS Institute April 11, 2006 OASIS Wins National RespectAbility Program of Excellence Award Recognizing Promising Practices in Civic Engagement April 11, 2006 OASIS Awarded $45,000 Grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for Intergenerational Healthy Lifestyles Program January 24, 2006 OASIS Receives $778,424 in Grants from the Missouri Foundation for Health to Improve Physical and Mental Health for Mature Adults January 18, 2006 OASIS President Participates in White House Conference on Aging December 5, 2005 OASIS Founder Marylen Mann Receives AARP Impact Award August 25, 2005 SBC Foundation Funds OASIS Project to Expand Workforce Development and Community Service June 27, 2005 Survey Finds Older Americans, Baby Boomers Want Jobs With a Purpose April 5, 2005 Department Store Helps City Seniors Find Haven to Continue Learning March 16, 2005 AoA's You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging Campaign Recognizes Joint Project of OASIS and San Antonio Partners March 5, 2005 More Seniors Use Technology to Stay Connected New study shows Internet use by mature adults up 6 percent (age 50-64); 9 percent (age 65+) Last update: June 27, 2005 Copyright © 2005. The OASIS Institute. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy