As our parents and those slightly their senior begin to retire and leave the workforce, the dynamics at the workplace will start to change. This will give our generation options and opportunities that our parents didn’t have. The main factor in this will be the great change in total workforce size and also changing perceptions of society.

Payscale.com published an article discussing what the retirement of the baby boomers means for us.

There are about 78 million boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, and as they begin hitting retirement age-the first wave turns 65 in 2011-experts anticipate workforce shortages. While some boomers are expected to keep working, others will leave current jobs for less-stressful careers, seek part-time or consulting positions, or retire.

This will cause a shift in who has the leverage between workers and companies. While before we have had to jockey for jobs with a huge pool of other workers like hungry monkeys, the impending change in workforce size will give workers a slight advantage in getting what they want. This will include flex work, benefits, and other luxuries that most don’t get to have currently. The evolving perceptions of men being primary caregivers of their children will also give stay at home mothers more opportunities to rejoin the workforce. (which rocks cuz I’m definitely going to be a stay-at-home dad. can we say track day?)

Taking time off: Can it hurt your market value? from Payscale.com