Alan Ferguson
The Province, A19

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Not since David Stuart showed up in 1812 to set up a trading post for the Pacific Fur Company has Kamloops seen such excitement.

The city is in the midst of an unprecedented economic boom with building permits at a record high and virtually zero unemployment.

Rumour has it any able-bodied person stepping off the bus there will have six job offers by lunchtime. “Five years ago there were people looking for jobs, now there are jobs looking for people,” says the 49-year-old mayor, Terry Lake.

Local firms are so hungry for competent staff that some, like Convergys Corp., a huge call-centre company, are targeting a new age group to fill their vacancies: the Snowbird generation. These are the senior citizens, explains Lake, who spend their winters down south and, in summer, “have time they'd like to fill in between golf games.”

Given the rapidly changing demographics across Canada, the return of a “grey army” to the national workforce is only a matter of time.

Three years ago, a mere 13 per cent of the population was over 65. In 20 years, there will be 7.8 million over-65s, 21 per cent of the total.

And, given that we are already experiencing a critical shortage of skilled labour, it should be no surprise that clever companies like Convergys are tapping into the growing pool of “mature workers”.

The phenomenon has already taken root in Europe where experiments have produced surprising results.

A major hardware chain in the U.K. staffed one of its outlets exclusively with older folk. Guess what happened?

Profits soared, staff turnover was slashed, absenteeism plummeted and pilfering by workers virtually stopped. Other employers found that mature workers were more presentable, better educated, more articulate and had a superior work ethic.

As the barriers to forced retirement continue to fall, seniors previously shunted out of their jobs because they were judged to be past their prime will regain control over their own destiny.

Healthier, and living longer, their growing numbers will empower them politically, socially and culturally. And, with our pitifully poor birth rate, these ageing boomers will have a clear field for years to come.

The tyranny of a once-dominant youth culture, rudely dictating its priorities in fashion, music and the arts, will give way to a golden age of sophistication.

Television will turn its back on teenage “celebrities” shrieking their discordant drivel. Voices of reason and moderation will again be heard in the land.

Grace and politeness will flourish in dress and manners, alongside a flowering of mature intellect.

Think it’ll never happen? Take another look at Kamloops, now enjoying “one of the highest levels of disposable income in the country,” according to Mayor Lake.

“Even while we are booming,” he says, “we are still having to close some schools.”

See? Young people are history. It’s our turn now. aferguson@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2006