GRAND RAPIDS – The move from full-time work to full-time leisure will be a gradual one for many tech executives, a new survey shows. Forty-six percent of chief information officers polled said they are likely to consider consulting or project work as a way to transition to retirement.
Part-time consulting allows retired IT workers to continue to be involved in their profession, work on technology projects they find interesting while still pursuing outside interests, and mentor the next generation of IT professionals.
This means retired workers, or those nearing retirement, will make up a larger portion of the IT workforce in the decades to come.
The poll results from Robert Half Technology mirrors data recently reported by the Conference Board, which said up to 64 million baby boomers, or more than 40 percent of the U.S. labor force, will be preparing to retire in large numbers by 2010. But the survey shows they won?t be quitting entirely just yet.
?For those nearing retirement, leaving a full-time position is often a lifestyle choice and not a decision to stop working entirely,? said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, which did the survey. ?Consulting provides a way for IT professionals to continue leveraging the expertise developed over their careers, earn extra income, mentor the next generation of talent and gain the flexibility to pursue other interests ? both professional and personal.?
Lee noted that companies also are benefiting from these arrangements.
?Seasoned workers who take on consulting roles help employers bridge knowledge gaps, which makes these professionals a desirable source of talent. To recruit from these ranks, companies are increasingly offering work/life balance incentives, such as flexible schedules and telecommuting options.?
Headhunter Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at RHT.Com
