Survey highlights needs of Wisconsin boomers

A survey of Wisconsin baby boomers — conducted in the Manitowoc area as research for the city’s Comprehensive Plan — revealed interesting insights about the demographic, which makes up 42 percent of the city’s population of about 33,000.

Reported in the Nov. 29, 2009, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, the findings include:

• About two-thirds said medical expenses and or health insurance were barriers to their retirement.
• 40 percent said they would work past planned retirement if they had an opportunity for reduced hours (20 to 24 hours per week).
• As boomers age, those remaining active professionally and civically can adopt a host of roles: investor, entrepreneur, mentor, educator, volunteer and consumer.
• 64 percent said the city of Manitowoc needs more housing that specifically meets the needs of older adults.

As a result of the findings, Vandewalle and Associates outlined the following facts to consider in planning for the city’s future:

• For decades, companies enjoyed an influx of young, skilled and able-bodied labor. However, like many parts of the United States, Manitowoc faces an unprecedented brain drain and a reduction in the growth of the work force as boomers retire.
• Maintaining boomer knowledge may include allowing flexible schedules, job sharing and partial retirement; maintaining an “on-call” consultant relationship with retirees; providing a retention bonus for a veteran employee that engages in job shadowing with an identified successor.
• “Boomer networks” should be developed that focus on keeping retired or semi-retired residents plugged into the business community.
• Engage boomers in education and philanthropy from mentoring to serving on boards of directors.
• Major corporations, as well as small businesses, will need to have succession and personnel advancement strategies in place for white collar employees, as well as apprenticeship programs for trade and factory employees.
• The housing market likely will see declining demand for large, single-family homes. Many empty-nesters want to downsize to a smaller home.

Read the article for the recommendations made to city planners.

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