According to the 2006 U.S. Census, Cayuga County has lost as many as 1,000 people since 1990. Assessing why people are leaving the area, focus has been on the obvious lack of job opportunities.
Although moving to more affordable areas with better job opportunities may be an immediate solution for Generation X, don't expect Generation Y to commit to any particular city or job.
Generation Y refers to Americans born between 1978 and 1989. This generation is growing quickly, having risen from 14 to 21 percent of the American workforce since 2002.
But although the number of workers entering the workforce increases, the number of workers between the ages of 55-64 is not declining.
In fact, AARP reports that 79 percent of baby boomers say they don't plan on retiring at the age of 65, creating a “working retirement.” Most boomers have to work, as a dramatic shift in cost-of-living nationwide has made it difficult for them to save enough for retirement.
This creates a multigenerational workplace; however unlike generations prior, Generation Y has been pampered with the immediacy of modern culture. Fast food, high-speed Internet, text messaging, ATMs ... everything is immediate, creating a high maintenance and impatient age group.
Adapting to this shift in culture, Generation Y may be less loyal to their employers than boomers or Xers. In a world where business is conducted via e-mail correspondence rather than face to face, it's no wonder.
In addition to the informality of Internet culture, corporations are now bought, sold, merged and resold at such an alarming rate it's difficult for younger generations to plant roots in any area.
Talk of creating jobs in central New York is definitely a step in the right direction, but the days of pension plans and unions are quickly becoming a thing of the past. In order to keep people in central New York, the area will first need to adapt to the changing marketplace.
I suggest that we take advantage of our SUNY school system and start bringing companies to the area that can recruit specifically from our local colleges, as Xerox has done with both the Rochester Institute of Technology and Cornell University.
If career goals can be implemented at the student/university level, it might enable younger generations to stay in the area.
In the meantime, don't be surprised if property taxes force Generation X to leave and a lack of opportunity prevents Generation Y from planting any roots.
Estabrook's column appears
Mondays in The Citizen and
she can be reached at
estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
Generation Y refers to Americans born between 1978 and 1989. This generation is growing quickly, having risen from 14 to 21 percent of the American workforce since 2002.
But although the number of workers entering the workforce increases, the number of workers between the ages of 55-64 is not declining.
In fact, AARP reports that 79 percent of baby boomers say they don't plan on retiring at the age of 65, creating a “working retirement.” Most boomers have to work, as a dramatic shift in cost-of-living nationwide has made it difficult for them to save enough for retirement.
This creates a multigenerational workplace; however unlike generations prior, Generation Y has been pampered with the immediacy of modern culture. Fast food, high-speed Internet, text messaging, ATMs ... everything is immediate, creating a high maintenance and impatient age group.
Adapting to this shift in culture, Generation Y may be less loyal to their employers than boomers or Xers. In a world where business is conducted via e-mail correspondence rather than face to face, it's no wonder.
In addition to the informality of Internet culture, corporations are now bought, sold, merged and resold at such an alarming rate it's difficult for younger generations to plant roots in any area.
Talk of creating jobs in central New York is definitely a step in the right direction, but the days of pension plans and unions are quickly becoming a thing of the past. In order to keep people in central New York, the area will first need to adapt to the changing marketplace.
I suggest that we take advantage of our SUNY school system and start bringing companies to the area that can recruit specifically from our local colleges, as Xerox has done with both the Rochester Institute of Technology and Cornell University.
If career goals can be implemented at the student/university level, it might enable younger generations to stay in the area.
In the meantime, don't be surprised if property taxes force Generation X to leave and a lack of opportunity prevents Generation Y from planting any roots.
Estabrook's column appears
Mondays in The Citizen and
she can be reached at
estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
The Citizens' Say
There are 3 comment(s)
Chris - Throop wrote on Apr 17, 2007 1:09 PM:
mb wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:27 AM:
I am generation X wrote on Apr 16, 2007 7:43 PM: