“Older Workers in an Uneasy Job Market” is the suggestive title of a 2013 based AARP study that focuses on how career demographics for older Americans are changing. Though many retirees experience some degree of age discrimination that can affect availability of opportunities, franchised businesses provide a chance to work that’s free of age constraints for those able to adequately take on independent business operation with a franchisor’s support.
The skills of experienced individuals who’ve gathered a variety of talents over the years still can certainly attract the attention of employers, yet every retired or soon to be retired individual seeking an alternative gig must also consider the degree of flexibility afforded as an employee as well as the quotient of joy involved.
The above mentioned AARP study relates that over 7 out of 10 surveyed individuals plan to work for pay during retirement, with most individuals doing so for their own personal enjoyment rather than any major financial need. It’s thus fair to say that a flexible lifestyle is important to retirees. After all, they’ve just left behind decades of hard work, many coming from years in the corporate world dedicated to one company.
So making room for leisure time or traveling that one naturally expects to enjoy during retirement, or even having the flexibility to help care for aged loved ones, is important to contemplate. Those in the retired but still working range in the study consistently fall into the age range of 60-74 with the majority enjoying some part-time work, and a smaller portion describing themselves as self-employed.
Often older workers are looking for part-time flexibility, which is one aspect of the study that increased by over five points in importance since a previous study published in 2007 also by AARP. This means that retirees are even more likely to hold a strong interest in part-time vs. full-time work opportunities than they were seven years ago, and this figure also jumped up alongside the desire to feel respected by the boss.
It’s no wonder then that a desire for part-time flexibility as well as a desire for respect, and no subtle age discrimination issues, makes franchise business operation a great fit. The uptick in concerns about flexibility and respect are no doubt also tied to a desire to enjoy a reasonable degree of freedom and independence while in retirement and to feel valued. Recognizing this, 13% of survey respondents said they are planning to work for themselves or start a new business in retirement as opposed to seeking employment, a figure that’s increased by 3% since 2002.