Encore Adulthood

The Baby Boomer generation is facing a time of heightened uncertainty. Blessed with unprecedented levels of education health and life expectancy many hope to contribute to society after their retirement. Yet they must also navigate ambiguous career exits and retirement paths as established scripts for schooling parenting and careers continue to unravel. In Encore Adulthood Phyllis Moen presents the realities of the encore life stage - the years between traditional careers and childraising and old age. Drawing on large-scale data sets and interviews with Boomers HR personnel and policymakers this book illuminates the challenges that Boomers encounter as they transition from traditional careers into retirement. Beyond data analysis Moen discusses the personal impact for Boomers'' wellbeing happiness and health when they are unable to engage in meaningful work during their encore years as well as the potential economic loss that would occur when a large qualified group of people prematurely exit the workforce. Moen concludes with proposals for a range of encore jobs that could galvanize Boomers to take on desirable and sought-after second acts emphasizing meaningful work over high-paying jobs and flexibility over long hours. An important analysis of an understudied and new life stage Encore Adulthood makes an important contribution to the existing scholarship on careers work and retirement.