Work force in Colorado graying around the edges
By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 8, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
At what age do you plan to retire?
Photo by Matt McClain / The Rocky
Mary Buhr, 77, says she isn't planning on retiring because she enjoys her job at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, where she takes care of accounting and a cat.
Mary Buhr loves her job. And the 77-year-old isn't about to retire.
"I told my boss when I have a stroke in this chair, I'm leaving," joked Buhr, who handles accounts receivable for the Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. "I like to keep my mind sharp. And this is a way to do that."
Mary Buhr underscores the fact that Colorado's work force is graying.
A report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 61 of Colorado's 64 counties recorded an increase in the percentage of workers who were 55 and older from 2001 to 2004.
Statewide, 13.2 percent of the work force was 55 and older as of 2004, the report showed.
The retail trade, utility and health care industries were among those with the largest percentages of older workers.
"It's in line with an awful lot of trends you see across the nation in terms of the types of jobs older people have," said Cynthia Tauber, a demographer who is one of the two authors of the census study.
Experts said the graying of the work force reflects a variety of factors, ranging from longer life spans and older workers who have good-paying jobs and who like their work to those who must work to make ends meet.
Experts also cite the millions of baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 who make up a significant portion of the work force.
Tauber in particular singled out those aged 55 to 64, who made up 10.3 percent of the state's work force in 2004. The expected retirement of those people is likely to leave some industries scrambling to find replacements.
"They're the ones everybody is sweating bullets over," said Tauber.
The utility industry is a case in point. In nonmetropolitan areas of the state, the utility industry had the highest percentage of workers aged 55 and older, at 19.9 percent in 2004. In metro areas it ranked No. 2. with 18.6 percent.
Xcel Energy spokeswoman Ethnie Groves said over the next five years about 1,200 members of the utility's eight-state work force will be eligible to retire.
"And we expect that figure to increase as the years go by," she said. The company employs nearly 11,000.
Those who will be eligible for retirement represent a variety of jobs, including management, office workers, plant operators, engineers and maintenance and construction workers.
Groves said Xcel has been holding job fairs at high schools to attract younger workers as well as sponsoring internships. About 30 students are expected to "shadow" Xcel staffers this summer in the metro area.
At the animal hospital, Buhr said she likes working because it keeps her in touch with a variety of age groups.
"I like to be around people of other ages, not just my age group," said Buhr, adding she likes to come home after work and reflect on her job.
"At the end of the day you have good things to think about. And you know you contributed something."
fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467
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April 8, 2008
5:50 a.m.
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roger44 writes:
Older workers have more safety sense also, and much more experience in many other areas that can be used on most jobs. Some younger workers are dangerous, have little common sense when it comes to safety, don't have a clue.
April 8, 2008
6:06 a.m.
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Michael writes:
The concept of retirement, as we have known it for the last 70 years or so, is changing radically. Longer life spans, the massive amount of baby boomers, the desire to stay active and vital, not enough money to retire, issues with SS and Medicare, a dwindling supply of new/young workers entering the labor pool, and the fact that older workers are valuable and full of knowledge to their employers and in their fields. Who wants to retire at 65 if you are going to live until you are 85 or 90? Who can afford it? Very few.
April 8, 2008
7:55 a.m.
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kathyM writes:
The employers that regularly lay off their "most experienced" (aka higher paid) workers could care less about that experience.
April 8, 2008
9:20 a.m.
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rg52 writes:
I cannot afford to retire until probably 70, I am 56 now. I do love my job, but as I age, I do worry about the company getting rid of the older people. This was a trend in the 80's, then business realized that was a mistake, so in the 90's that trend slowed down. But, again the trend is to get rid of older people close to retirement, and who make the larger salary, due to long employment. Companies do not care, they want the bottom line to look good for stock holders. With the present economy, who knows what will happen. There is a company in Boulder, Co. that layed people off, then a short time later offered these people a chance to come back and interview for the same postion but at entry level salary. Apparently this has become a common practice.
April 8, 2008
9:28 a.m.
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Michael writes:
rg52 - Would that situation you described not be covered under age dicrimination - which is against the law? It sure seems that it would.
April 8, 2008
9:50 a.m.
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Otter writes:
Go ahead and keep working, but at least “retire” from your career job and do something else. If you are no longer supporting a family, you should move off the top of the ladder to make room for people in their 30’s and 40’s to progress upwards.
If you want to see the results of this trend, take a look at Italy. No jobs and no career advancement for professionals in their prime because their elders work themselves into the grave.
April 8, 2008
11:05 a.m.
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kevin writes:
test
April 8, 2008
11:55 a.m.
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VVVV writes:
Wow, another story about the baby boomer's favorite topic - their own importance. How about a story for once detailing the real impact of the boomers? Like how them staying in jobs until they die reduces the number of competitive jobs, therefore reducing the wages the rest of us can ask for; how low wages are the main reason these industries are having trouble recruiting new employees; how so many of us have to cover for boomers that are technically incompetent and can't even check their email; how many of them do little more than collect a paycheck and complain that retirement isn't coming soon enough; how their archaic practices slow down the rapid pace of progress in a world they can't keep up with; and how no matter how far they drag down the country with social security, medicare, pensions, retirement buyouts, housing markets, and old cronies in political offices, they will always claim themselves to be the greatest generation this country has ever seen.
April 8, 2008
11:59 a.m.
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VVVV writes:
And don't worry about Colorado. We have enough immigrants from California, Texas, and Detroit continually streaming in with no prospects and five dollars in their pocket to pick up for any loss of workforce.
April 8, 2008
1:01 p.m.
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Scott writes:
kathyM, your comment is dead on. However, those MBA/bean counter pukes that lay off the experienced employees are only looking for short term profit. In the long run they end up killing the company. The old Bell System did this by offering pension enhancements and it killed the company. Us kids (at the time) lost almost all of our mentors, hence the passing on of knowledge ceased.
rg52, I think I know which Boulder company you're talking about. I also work in Stonerville. Also, me too, I'll have to work until I croak.
Otter & VVVV, You sound like the mis-quote of former Governor Dick Lamm, "die and get out of the way." I believe it's called a right to work. Don't blame us old farts for working until we croak. Blame the lack of an economy (both political parties) to support the workforce and the lack of trust in the Social Security pyramid scheme. I'll work till I drop because SS, 401k and pension won't be enough. I also REALLY like what I'm doing.
VVVV, I'd really like to know where you work to understand your view of us old farts not knowing how to "check their email", etc.. At all three jobs that I've had in my 27 year career almost everyone of the old farts would catch on just as fast as the snot-nosed-kids. Those that didn't were told to retire. You really have issues with old farts, don't ya! I'll assume that to open up a job for a snot-nosed-kid you will die young? You could kill yourself with some class and cash out the same way as Socrates, hemlock.
Scott
April 8, 2008
1:38 p.m.
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Spencer writes:
4 V's..are baby boomers the greatest generation? I thought that was the parents of baby boomers.
April 8, 2008
3:16 p.m.
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Ztliano writes:
RETIRE YOU OLD FARTS, SO I CAN TAKE YOUR JOBS!
April 8, 2008
4:22 p.m.
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Heidi writes:
Yea, how dare those old people continue to work and pay taxes! Have they no pride?
April 8, 2008
4:32 p.m.
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meatwad writes:
Hey, saying us young folks are snot-nosed, non-safe, horrible workers doesn't make any sense. After all, weren't most of us raised by...you?!?! I'm 22, a snot nosed age according to the forums, and i feel i'm a very competent, respectable, vigorous employee. So at least give us some credit, most of them probably are pricks, but there's some who aren't and take offense to people saying our generation doesn't have any class. Maybe you just see the ones who are loud and easy to point out (gangsters)instead of the gems that you actually have to look to see. Also, i've noticed that both young and old are jackoffs. I've been denied help by all ages, but the older ones are the worst.
April 8, 2008
4:51 p.m.
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Scott writes:
meatwad, I was being sarcastic to the "snot-nosed-kids" that seem to think us old farts should just die/retire and get out of the way.
You're darn right us old farts have no one to blame but ourselves for you snot-nosed-kids. We bred you and we raised you. :-)
Scott
April 8, 2008
4:51 p.m.
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Scott writes:
Heidi, Nope, none at all :-)
Scott
April 8, 2008
5:19 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
Well lets see how to not offend anyone.I worked in a company where the senior woman could not remember how many movies were in our department.Then when someone younger would direct a customer to the right movie or product for purchase.Her response was all they had to do was ask.Well they would and she never knew where anything was.Also she would say I have been here ten years and they will never fire me.I was raised to respect older people,but this woman was always complaining the young people don't do their work.Let me tell you I am forty and this woman would always be late to work,female trouble and don't forget cramps.She had to be sixty years old,and as sneaky as a rattler in you boots in the morning.She would lie steal and cheat but they loved her.Why because they were still only paying her 6.00 dollars an hour.The rest of us doing the heavy lifting and all the hard work 7.50 an hour.She was angry at the world and hard to work with.She also gave away video games and t.v.s by not getting the customer to pay for it in our department.But this is what you get for cheap labor angry and spiteful in the workplace.Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.Just call me fed up with the idiots.
April 8, 2008
6:42 p.m.
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DAT writes:
Has anyone else noticed how deeply unhappy "happymike" always seems to be? But I guess that would make it easy for him to notice someone who is angry at the world, eh?
April 8, 2008
11:34 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
I relied on my job everyday,this old woman it was x-mas money.She cost the chain so much money in lost revenue they closed the doors.We all lost our jobs.Why because someone who should have been at home drinking ensure.Was working and stealing from her employer.She would have family come into the store and preview the merchandise.Let them take it home and never pay for it.This is the reason we all pay higher prices at the store so if I seem to be unhappy.Then ask youself how you would feel if someone who lie stole and cheated in the workplace should get ahead at the expense of so many hard working honest people.I know for a fact she told someone I let out a 25 inch flat screen and then when I was counseled for it.They discovered I was not at work that day.So DAT maybe you would like granny to come to work with you.Then you might change your tune unless you believe in ripping off your employer.I hope not but I get sick of feeling like the last honest person on the planet.So if you don't like what I have to say TOO BAD.Also get a life little rebecca of sunnybrook farm.Also don't take off your rose tinted glasses.You might see the real world and shock you into reality.But thanks for your input sweetie darling.
April 9, 2008
6:51 a.m.
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DAT writes:
I rest my case.
April 9, 2008
9:25 a.m.
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happymike44 writes:
Dear DAT I just wanted you to know how much I value your input sweetie darling.But then again you probably live at the exit ramp to fantasy land right next to the it's a small world exit.Wake up sweetie darling and smell the coofee.Because You probably believe the old folks you work with love and respect you not.Also you seem to live in denial and that is not a river in egypt.When you are not a realist you can not comment on people or their values.So if you don't like what I write TOO BAD because I just want people to know that every old person out there is not like my grams who loved us and never was mean or nasty.But today the older folks seem to be disgusted by todays youth.Also they seem to not respect anyone under the age of fifty.Also I really liked having go out and find a new job.While the lying thieving snake got moved to a store her son the regional manager saw to that.But it did not help the rest of us.
April 9, 2008
10:27 a.m.
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OhBrother writes:
thank you for your rent-a-center tales, i'm glad you don't have to work with "granny" anymore.