|
Part-Time Work Opportunities
If you have figured out that you want to or have to work in your "retirement" in order to maintain your standard of living, you are not alone. Nearly 80 percent of today's 76 million baby boomers plan to keep working in their next stage of life, according to a recent Merrill Lynch survey. In addition, an astounding 56 percent of baby boomers want new careers.
But at the same time boomers want flexibility to work on their own schedule and with more time for themselves than they have enjoyed in the past. So many are opting out of the conventional Monday-Friday, 40-plus hours a week convention, and looking for part-time work, possibly on weekends or in the evenings, or maybe just a few days a week. Most are happy to work part-time, although some want to work full-time but simple cannot find full-time employment and have to settle for part-time work.
"A part-time job can keep you physically, mentally and socially active and perhaps allow you to experiment with a new work role without the commitment and energy drain of a 40-hour workweek," says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., co-author of 225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers.
"For the first time since you were a teenager, part-time work may be financially feasible even though you will be paid for fewer hours and probably at a lower hourly rate," Shatkin says. "Social Security, a pension, a 401(k) or some combination of these may cover a major fraction of your income needs. Plus, Medicare or a retirement medical plan may provide health-care benefits that previously had been affordable only through a full-time job."
The Department of Labor continually surveys the world of work and comes up with analyses and forecasts. Here's a table with jobs that are often done on a part-time basis. Most require training, and may even require your going back to college. But, hey, remember how much fun it was to be a student!
| Job Description |
Annual Earnings |
Annual Openings |
| Teachers, Post-Secondary |
$54,406 |
216,000 |
| Registered Nurses |
$53,640 |
215,000 |
| Pharmacists |
$87,160 |
23,000 |
| Clinical Psychologists* |
$56,360 |
17,000 |
| Counseling Psychologists* |
$56,360 |
17,000 |
| School Psychologists* |
$56,360 |
17,000 |
| Instructional Coordinators |
$50,060 |
18,000 |
| Security Guards |
$20,520 |
228,000 |
| Self-Enrichment Education Teachers |
$31,350 |
39,000 |
| Speech Language Pathologists |
$53,790 |
10,000 |
| Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services |
$24,420 |
219,000 |
| Personal and Home Care Aides |
$17,020 |
154,000 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses |
$34,650 |
105,000 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists |
$46,710 |
21,000 |
| Teacher Assistants |
$19,760 |
259,000 |
| Legal Secretaries |
$37,390 |
39,000 |
| Chiropractors |
$67,940 |
3,000 |
| Audiologists |
$53,040 |
1,000 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners |
$19,110 |
454,000 |
| Caption Writers |
$45,460 |
23,000 |
| * These three job categories share the 17,000 annual job openings |
For further information about various occupations, including details on the training and education required, descriptions of what people in a particular occupation do in their work, and important data on earnings and future job prospects, the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great resource. Check out in particular the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco .
|
