The Biggest Career Transition

Helping older workers to make informed career and life choices

Jenni Proctor, Career ClarityJo Shambler. Department of Public Works

Definitions Stats and facts Two perspectives Workshop Theories Reflection and conversation Conclusion

Welcome

By show of hands, who are our participants in relation to their closeness to retirement?◦ 1 to 5 years◦ 5 to 10 years◦ 10+ years

Who has actively considered the transition or the next phase?

Demographics

Retirement

Transition (or phasing)

Definitions

Stats and Facts

The recent Intergenerational Report from the Australian Government highlights the need for people to work beyond the traditional retirement age. It signals that by 2050, nearly one-quarter of Australia’s population will be aged 65 and over, and that there will be only 2.7 people of working age for every person 65 and over. (This compares to 13 percent and 5 people respectively today.)

CDAA Career Snapshot October 2010

Labour force participation of people aged 55 Years and over - 1980-2010(a)

Stats and Facts

Source – ABS Australian Social Trends 4102.0 September 2010

Number of QPS staff eligible for retirement

Stats and Facts

2010 to 2014

2015 to 2019

2020 to 2024

2025 to 2029

2030 to 2034

19,113 27,547 28,326 25,864 24,097

Jenni – public sector

Stats and Facts

By 2010, there’ll be just under one million peopled aged 65+ living in Queensland; that’s almost twice as many as back in 2006!

Average life expectancies:

Stats and Facts

Females Males 1986 79.4 years 73 years 1995 81 years 75.1 years 2025-26 86.44 years 82.18 years 2950-51 87.69 years 84.18 years

Stats and FactsMain factor influencing decision about when to retire - Persons aged 45 years and over who intend to retire from the labour force

Australian Bureau of Statistics - Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia, Jul 2008 to Jun 2009 .

Points of consideration for informing retirement thinking:◦ Career and learning◦ Lifestyle and recreational◦ Relationships◦ Health◦ Formal arrangements (e.g. financial and estate

planning)

General information

Business/government Private practitioner

1. What are the main concerns/issues?2. Who are the main clientele and at what

age are people asking these questions?3. What are the perspectives/attitudes?4. What are the most common outcomes ->

goal setting and planning

Two perspectives

In the context that you are now/currently working, what are the issues that people need to consider for the next phase of their lives?

Workshop

Erickson – Psychosocial Development Generativity vs stagnation Ego integrity vs despair

Donald Super – 5 stage life span model Growth, Exploration and Establishment Maintenance and Decline

Systems Theory Framework Impact of age, stage of life, social factors

Theories

Simin and Osipow – Counselling technique Vocational script – issues relating to work

and/or retirement Defining vocational identity through work

history and pursuits.Wrobel et al – Attitudes relate to current

employment, tenure, need for achievement. Fear of stagnation, marketability

perceptions, self esteem, job market conditions.

Susan Imel – Employers have a role to play Building internal capacity may be better

than attracting external applicants.

How might you assist clients to make informed career and life choices?

Reflection and conversation