You might not notice unless you are 55 to 70 years old, but if you are, it is ever apparent that there are very few jobs available for individuals in this age bracket, and the future looks bleak as well. What they say appears to be true, there are no jobs for advanced-age employees. What are our older wage earners going to do without the income that they need for basic survival?
When the pandemic hit, the 55-to-70-year-olds were promptly laid off, and as the lockdowns continue, it looks as though returning to work may not be an option for these unfortunate folks. Even if they have Social Security to fall back on, unless they also have independent retirement benefits to rely on, they are going to be terribly unfortunate. Even so, many of our elderly who can work do so into their eighties and nineties.
Even though they may have a reduced capacity to work, they still have a desire to serve and add value to the community because they are still driven to participate and contribute, even though their peers have opted out of the workforce. They are high-functioning and still feel like they have plenty to offer, and they have far more to offer than you might think.
Some cultures consider their elders to be highly regarded in terms of their experience and wisdom if they have earned it by living a good life. These older members of society are honored and invited to participate in leadership or support roles, and they are consulted with prior to making decisions that may have an impact on the greater community.
Cultures that hold the wisdom of their elders in high regard include Native Americans, Greeks, Indians, Koreans, Romans, and Chinese. Though the present-day Chinese reverence for their elders is waning due to the westernization of China in general.
After the pandemic restrictions are lifted, it appears that there will be very few jobs available for older Americans as more youthful workers will be flooding the job-related landscape.
Many of them can see the writings on the wall and they know there is little to look forward to, so the most ambitious of them are delving into starting their own businesses and entrepreneurialism, which makes more sense than anything, especially in a time when Americans are starting new businesses at a more rapid pace than at any time in recorded history.
This is the new wave of entrepreneurialism that is empowering the nation to assimilate a lifestyle they may have only dreamed of until faced with having to discover a way to mitigate the damages of the government shutting down the private sector across the board.
As necessity is the mother of invention, so is entrepreneurialism the answer to joblessness.
Regardless of your age, you were born with a unique and individual purpose, message, passion, and mission to deliver to the greater community. Any of these facets of the “real you,” the you that you were destined to be, or the you that emerged as you worked your way through this life, could easily be turned into a business. In this respect, older Americans can bring far more to the table than younger adults.
What they bring to the table are experience and wisdom. Youth may encapsulate enthusiasm, but only with age comes wisdom, something that has been disregarded in the present day. And that is okay. If no one else values the wisdom they can contribute, they can take first-hand responsibility for their own contribution.
You will find them writing books, creating consulting agencies, opening coaching practices, and starting their own businesses. They are expanding their functionality amid the community space offering unparalleled value while monetizing their special gifts and abilities, many for the first time in their lives.
Even if later in life, our elders are finally enjoying an increased earning ability while they exercise their freedom and dispense their wisdom in so many ways. They are living a better life, their best lives, and making the world a better place.
