In 1946, the year after World War II, there were 3.4 million births, a 20 percent increase over 1945; the so-called “baby boom” officially started at this point (Hayes, 2022). There were an extra 3.8 million births in 1947, 3.9 million in 1952, and over 4 million births each year from 1954 through 1964 (Hayes, 2022). Nowadays, baby boomers are a key market category since they now control a significant portion of the US wealth. The objectives of businesses, government, and other economic actors have changed as baby boomers have matured. Particularly, these actors take into account the effects baby boomers have on the national economy – on the labor market, investments, and overall nation’s financial management. The below discussion will be dedicated to the exploration of such effects within the scope of the theme.
Labor markets are being impacted by baby boomers to a great extent. Before the epidemic outbreak, they were working longer hours and hanging onto occupations that the younger generation would otherwise occupy. This had a favorable effect on firms since studies have indicated that when baby boomers leave, production declines because of the loss of administrative expertise. Thousands of baby boomers have been forced to retire earlier than anticipated due to the epidemic. The large bulk of baby boomers feels certain they will be able to retire. Of the baby boomers questioned, 62% are retired, 23% plan on retiring, and 16% are unsure if they will really be ready to terminate working (Hayes, 2022). Hence, it seems clear that the labor market faces some considerable fluctuations, given the baby boomers’ tendency to retire.
Ultimately, the baby boomers have produced patterns that favor certain industries more than others. Investors may set up their portfolios to benefit from the boomer effect. These investment possibilities are mostly found in the healthcare or medical services industries. As more baby boomers get older, industries including orthopedic manufacturers, affordable care facilities, medical gadget producers, and pharmaceutical producers will continue to evolve. Such a state of affairs, again, indicates the significance of baby boomers in terms of economic impact.
As for today, ages 57 to 75 comprise the generational range. If one fits into this group, they are aware of the expenses you must make and the ways in which they may enjoy themselves with savings or extra money. One could have parents, brothers, cousins, and other family members who can be considered baby boomers if they are in their 40s, for instance. The majority of baby boomers have varying levels of financial literacy, albeit it was typically on the upper end for most categories. According to a survey, only 18% of respondents considered themselves novices in managing a budget, while 82 percent of those polled stated they are at a medium or expert level (Wrenn, 2022). The national capability to save money is essential for the overall economic state. For example, banks are dealing with great volumes of deposits if the population is aware of how to manage their financials. Via taxation, a considerable degree of such savings goes to the US’s national funds.
To conclude, the above discussion explored the effects that baby boomers have on the United States economy today. It was argued that there are three primary dimensions through which they do so – labor markets, investments, and financial management. It is essential constantly evaluate this social segment’s impact on the state, given that they form a considerable part of the nation.
References
Hayes, A. (2022). Boomer effect (baby boomer factor). Investopedia.
Wrenn, S. (2022). Top financial literacy education gaps across generations. Investopedia.