In the Real World: Baby-Boomers and Retirement Choices in the Federal Sector

Baby-boomers – people born between 1946 and 1964, make up one of the largest and prosperous generation in U.S. history. The impendent wave of retirement in the workplace has become a source of concern for many organizations (CBO, 2004). Employers in certain states are feeling more of the impact of this aging workforce. Over 50% of baby boomers live in nine states (as of 2000): California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and New Jersey. They also represent more than 30% of the total population in 17 states (as of 2002): Alaska, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Wyoming, Washington, New Jersey, Montana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, West Virginia and Wisconsin (Willet, 2006).