Baby Boomers Refuse to Retire: ‘If I Stop Moving, I Might Die’ — Here’s Why That’s a Problem

Sep 08, 2026 10:00 PM - 1 day ago 4

Economists spent years forecasting a “Silver Tsunami,” saying that Baby Boomers would property retired of the workforce successful 1 awesome wave. It ne'er struck. Labor unit information among group 65 and older conscionable deed 19.2%, up from astir 12% astatine the move of the century, according to the New York Post.

From Boeing to Verizon to Cracker Barrel, boards support turning to older aliases moreover antecedently retired CEOs. As of June, 42% of sitting CEOs were 60 aliases older, an “elevated” level compared to humanities norms.

Many Boomers garbage to exit the C-suite, partially because they’re surviving longer, and partially for psychological reasons. “There’s a fearfulness that if I extremity moving, I mightiness die,” says Shawn Cole, president and co-founder of Cowen Partners Executive Search. “They each cognize personification who retired and past each of a abrupt their assemblage started falling apart.”

But the business is mounting up a existent succession problem. Building an executive fresh for the apical occupation takes 15 to 20 years, and companies that support leaning connected aging activity are burning done that runway. When the modulation yet comes, Cole says, Millennials whitethorn not beryllium ready. “These group were ne'er allowed successful the rooms and complete the people of 1 aliases 2 years it’s gonna beryllium a accelerated succession,” he says. “Who thinks that’s a bully idea?”

Economists spent years forecasting a “Silver Tsunami,” saying that Baby Boomers would property retired of the workforce successful 1 awesome wave. It ne'er struck. Labor unit information among group 65 and older conscionable deed 19.2%, up from astir 12% astatine the move of the century, according to the New York Post.

From Boeing to Verizon to Cracker Barrel, boards support turning to older aliases moreover antecedently retired CEOs. As of June, 42% of sitting CEOs were 60 aliases older, an “elevated” level compared to humanities norms.

Many Boomers garbage to exit the C-suite, partially because they’re surviving longer, and partially for psychological reasons. “There’s a fearfulness that if I extremity moving, I mightiness die,” says Shawn Cole, president and co-founder of Cowen Partners Executive Search. “They each cognize personification who retired and past each of a abrupt their assemblage started falling apart.”

But the business is mounting up a existent succession problem. Building an executive fresh for the apical occupation takes 15 to 20 years, and companies that support leaning connected aging activity are burning done that runway. When the modulation yet comes, Cole says, Millennials whitethorn not beryllium ready. “These group were ne'er allowed successful the rooms and complete the people of 1 aliases 2 years it’s gonna beryllium a accelerated succession,” he says. “Who thinks that’s a bully idea?”

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