DISTANCE LEARNING

Older adults are attending online schools in droves for yet another reason: they expect to work well beyond the usual retirement age of 65.

Lack of adequate health care and retirement benefits have forced some retirees back into the marketplace. Another segment of older workers simply chooses to work as long as they are physically able to do so –either because they are bored, or to keep their brain engaged and stimulated.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the so-called “graying” of the work-force is already taking place and will be particularly evident by the year 2016. The main labor force of those between the ages of 25 and 54 is expected to decline from 68.4% to 64.6% between 2006 and 2016. But the percentage of older workers, aged 55 and up, is expected to increase from 16.8% to 22.7%.

Those who are interesting in retiring from one career now have the opportunity to study at home for a new career.  Distance learning has made a way for full-time employees to earn an accredited online degree without sacrificing time off from work. 

And what promising careers are calling to retirement-age workers?

The hot jobs of the future are in varying fields — including health services, education, business administration, computer information systems, scientific and technical consulting, software publishing, administrative support, Internet publishing, broadcasting, telecommunication services, arts, entertainment and recreation.

According to the CIA World Fact Book, a male or female child born today can expect to live 75 or 80 years, respectively. Soon, it will not be unusual to find people living to be 100 years old. So the thought of experiencing 2-3 major careers in one lifetime is not a stretch.

E-learning has spread to traditional colleges and for-profit online schools. And adult learners who thought their schools days were over are now taking notes – once again.

online schools, distance learning, e-learning, online education, adult learners, employees, jobs, career, study_at_home, college, retirement, hot jobs, colleges

Popularity: 5% [?]

Share This