I don't like generalizing by "generations" but this is something where I see a divergence in younger and older coworkers.
Older ones literally say, "I don't want to learn [insert relevant skill] because I'm too old."
Younger coworkers seem to come better equipped with the mindset that they will have to continually unlearn and relearn to remain relevant. And to counter your point about a recession, many of them started their careers in a recession and I see it in their conservative approach to employment.
I think this is more about a complacent mindset with people who may not have recognize that they have to adjust to continue to be valuable. I've known people who were downsized and squandered ample opportunity like free tuition to change careers. I've known others who've successfully parlayed a physically demanding job to one less physically demanding because they knew they couldn't do that forever.
What company, exactly, is going to want to invest time and money training a man in his late 60s to do a job that will afford him a reasonable lifestyle in a large metropolitan area?
I think you are assuming there are no transferable skills and the person would have to trained from square 1. As an example of where this isn't the case, I know an older lineman who recently moved into a design slot. Sure, he needed some training but he also brought a wealth of other value, like design for maintainability
I don't like generalizing by "generations" but this is something where I see a divergence in younger and older coworkers.
Older ones literally say, "I don't want to learn [insert relevant skill] because I'm too old."
Younger coworkers seem to come better equipped with the mindset that they will have to continually unlearn and relearn to remain relevant. And to counter your point about a recession, many of them started their careers in a recession and I see it in their conservative approach to employment.
I think this is more about a complacent mindset with people who may not have recognize that they have to adjust to continue to be valuable. I've known people who were downsized and squandered ample opportunity like free tuition to change careers. I've known others who've successfully parlayed a physically demanding job to one less physically demanding because they knew they couldn't do that forever.