Battle of the Ages

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**Easy E**

I hear a lot about Baby Boomers vs Millenials vs. Gen Xers. One group blaming th other for this and that, or Baby Boomers not getting out of the way to let Millenials make there mark, blah, blah, blah.

Well, it looks like the most recent data shows that Older workers actually do have an advantage over the younger workers when it comes to employment.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/breakingviews/2012/03/09/improving_u_s_jobs_trend_still_squeezes_younger_workers.html

I have to admit, I was surprised. I had heard anecdotally that companies were using the latest recession to trim out the older, more expensive work force; and replace them with younger, cheaper alternatives. Maybe not so much.

The improving U.S. jobs trend confirmed by Friday’s data favors the old over the young. A solid 227,000 jobs were added, with upward revisions for past months, even though the unemployment rate stayed at 8.3 percent. However in the last five years, people aged 55 and over have gained 3.6 million jobs, while younger workers have lost 7.6 million. The incentives of shrunken savings and funny money are doubly harming the young.

The details of February’s report were strong. Professional and business services, healthcare, leisure and hospitality and manufacturing all saw tens of thousands of new jobs. Construction employment declined slightly, indicating that recent strong data was not due simply to the northeastern United States’ mild winter.

Throughout the recent downturn and slow recovery, the 55-and-overs have fared better than their juniors in terms of getting jobs, even if they may not relish having to do so. In the past year alone, they accounted for 67 percent of the 2.5 million net new job gains. Indeed, 600,000 new jobs went to people aged 65 or more, raising the number of people in that age group who are working by more than 10 percent.

The trend has squeezed younger workers. The unemployment rate for those aged 55 or over in February was 5.9 percent, against 7 percent for the 25-54 age group - traditionally considered the prime working years - and disheartening double-digit rates for the under-25s.

It’s possible that in some cases the experience of older workers has helped them beat younger rivals for jobs. At least as likely, though, is that the poor investment returns of the last decade and Federal Reserve policy that has slashed interest rates on their savings have forced them to continue working or to start again.

The U.S. economy benefits from the continued productive employment of older people, though perhaps golf course managers would beg to differ. But younger workers, denied the construction jobs they are physically equipped for because of the housing malaise, may feel their struggle to navigate this difficult economy is worsened by unexpected competition from the wrinklies.

Read more at Reuters Breakingviews.

**PapaPiggy**

Hate to say this, but most of that comes from the order groups actually willing to do the work the way they are told to do it. Whereas the younger people feel that they are in fact smarter than they are. Its also, older people know they have to work to make their livings and the younger people thinking a new job is around the bend.

I have to blame all the worlds problems not on an age group per-say, i would have to blame it all on rap and hip hop. And in a direct relation, the people who listen to it. Not all of them. Just the ones who let every one know they listen to it.