Career gridlock: baby boomers hit the wall

Abstract

Executive Overview This article examines ways in which work organizations have been affected by people born between 1946 and 1964. The baby boomers' values, behaviors, and family orientations are significantly impacting industry. Over the next ten years, this group faces the likelihood of serious career plateauing. The difference in career orientation and advancement prospects equates to a growing value and opportunity gap in management. While the number of ways of achieving promotional success is finite (and shrinking), we believe that the number of ways of achieving psychological success is infinite. In addition, many people in this age group have a good sense of where they want to head with their protean or self-directed careers. The key is to discourage long-term career planning and instead to facilitate managers and employees in self-assessment, empowering them to take advantage of opportunities for psychological success, as they arise. The challenge for organizations is to match human resource practices with these new career values.