I recently had the opportunity to give a keynote at the HRNZ Future Workplace Forum in Auckland on a topic close to my heart ‘the ageing workforce’ or more specifically, ageing IN the workforce and how we need to approach it differently.
As part of this opportunity, I was also invited to write a companion article for the Summer Edition of the HRNZ’s quarterly magazine for the profession which I entitled ‘Riding the Not-So-Silver Wave: New Zealand’s Ageing Workforce’.
In this article, I outline THREE key strategies for embracing this tectonic shift in not just our own but the world’s workforce demographics:
- Looking Beyond Boomers (the ageing workforce isn’t who you think!)
- Rethinking Retirement in an Age of Longevity; and
- Addressing the Adaptive Challenge of Ageism.
Here’s the opening few paragraphs to whet your appetite:
“New Zealand’s ageing workforce is reaching a nexus point. The wave has been silently rising. As it draws closer to the shore, it’s more important than ever for us to understand and adapt to the radical demographic shift that’s coming not just for our country, but the entire world.
The wave is breaking
Over the past few years, as I’ve begun to lead conversations about this more openly with client organisations and the executive and senior women leaders I work with, I’ve found it’s often the first time the topic is being raised and discussed. For many, it feels far off and unrelated to the ‘real and present danger’ challenges they are dealing with today. But rather than being far off in the distance, the Not-So-Silver-Wave is already beginning to break, bringing with it both challenges and opportunities for individuals, organisations and society.
Given the strategic importance of the ageing population (concerning both the markets organisations serve and the people they employ), I believe understanding these demographic changes is essential for organisations looking to create and sustain stand-out employer brands, sustainable talent pipelines, and strong workplace cultures. We can no longer afford to view ageing solely through the lens of a downhill slide to retirement; instead, we should celebrate the wealth of experience, knowledge, wisdom and connections that older workers (50+) bring to the table and seek to make the most of them.”
KEEN TO READ MORE? DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE HERE.
And if you’re interested in checking out the full ‘Welcome to Your Workforce’ Summer Edition of the Human Resources magazine, you can read it on-line HERE.
Big thanks to Managing Editor Kathy Catton for the opportunity to add my voice to this publication.
I’m offering the keynote I created for the HRNZ Future Workplace Forum to organisations in 2025 as a way to stimulate this conversation with Executive Teams, HR Teams, and leadership communities. PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more.
