AS AUSTRALIA enjoys the boom times, cashed-up baby boomers are expected to play a vital role in maintaining the nation's wealth.
Now there is growing pressure to keep them in the workforce longer.
''Given the changing demographic and the decline in birth rate, governments are keen to keep baby boomers in the labour market,'' says UniSA Centre for Work and Life director Barbara Pocock.
''Not all baby boomers are well positioned to retire. Many will work well into their 60s.''
Professor Pocock predicts the boomers will be offered greater flexibility about when and where they work.
The baby boomers have seen massive changes and have had to be ''incredibly adaptive'' to technology. Ideally, it was meant to increase leisure time but in fact it has seen many people working even longer hours.
''Extensive periods of intense work means there will be health issues,'' Professor Pocock says.
However, some are using the technology to great benefit. ''It will be liberating for some, giving them the flexibility to work from home,'' she says.
Then there are those who simply want to continue working.
''People are gradually winding down and are much more socially integrated through their work,'' she says.
''That is much more true for women. ''They want to continue work, but with less hours and more flexibility.''
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BOMMER & BEYOND SURVEY
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