Age really is just a number, at least at work, according to a survey of employed U.S. baby boomers.
Results from the survey by LifeGoesStrong.com, a website for people ages 45 to 65 and owned by NBC Universal, suggest that nearly half of Americans born between 1946 and 1964 now work for a younger boss, and most report that they are older than most of their colleagues. But 61% of the U.S. baby boomers surveyed said their age is not an issue at work. In fact, while just 14% believe their age is a liability at work, 25% called it an asset.
“You need to find something you love doing—and in a field that you’re comfortable in,” Cynthia Forwerck, 54, told The Associated Press.
Forwerck, a preschool director in Charlotte, N.C., said she has successfully balanced several decades of first-hand knowledge with the need to keep abreast of new industry trends and technology, a sentiment shared by about two-thirds of the 1,160 people surveyed.
Results from the survey indicate that most boomers have no imminent retirement plans. While the first post-World War II babies will reach 65 this year, two-thirds say they’ll work at least part-time past retirement age for financial reasons, either because they’ll need to or because they’ll want extra spending money. Another 29% indicate a desire to continue working to keep busy, and 25% boomers say they don’t plan to retire at all.