Latest news with #Babyboomers
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Older employees say they're more dedicated to their work – and more likely to be let go
Older Americans say they're the most engaged employees at work, while younger generations are 'more likely to feel disengaged or overwhelmed' while on the job, according to a FlexJobs survey in June. Despite that dedication, older employees – those ages 50 and over – are more likely to be judged by their age than their abilities, other studies show. Though older workers say they're more dedicated to and emotionally invested in their work, they also say they're being 'systematically pushed out, overlooked, or subtly encouraged to retire earlier than planned,' says a new report from It's not a new concern. Roughly two-thirds of adults over 50 believe older workers face discrimination in the workplace, USA TODAY reported in 2024. 'We're seeing a significant disconnect between perception and reality," says Keith Spencer, Career Expert at FlexJobs. "Baby boomers are among the most engaged and dedicated employees in today's workforce." How generations differ in engagement at work Can't see our graphics? Click here to view them. The results suggest that work engagement 'tends to increase with age (or possibly experience) and may reflect generational differences in expectations, burnout, or job stability,' FlexJobs says. Respondents said the top factors that help keep them engaged at work are: What employees of all ages value Additional research by AARP indicates 64% of employees ages 50 and older have either personally seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. "Ageist assumptions and biases play a big role in this issue," Spencer says. "You have a generation that wants to stay engaged and contribute meaningfully, but a workplace culture that sometimes tells them that their time is up." METHODOLOGY SurveyMonkey online survey of 2,062 adults June 10-24, 2025, for FlexJobs SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research;
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Boomers are sitting on nearly $19 trillion in real estate — here's where they hold the most housing health
Advertisement Baby boomers are sitting on a staggering amount of housing wealth—across the U.S., they own an estimated $18 trillion to $19 trillion worth of real estate. Boomers now hold nearly half of the nation's real estate wealth. This is a direct reflection of decades of homeownership, rising property values, and the generational shift that is now reshaping the housing market. But, where exactly is that wealth concentrated? A new analysis reveals that while boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—have planted roots across the country, a handful of metro areas stand out as hotbeds for retiree real estate wealth. Unsurprisingly, Florida dominates the list, claiming five of the top 10 spots. Advertisement 7 Baby Boomers own an estimated $18 trillion to $19 trillion worth of real estate. 7 Boomers now hold nearly half of the nation's real estate wealth. Syda Productions – The Sunshine State offers warm weather, no state income tax, and a lifestyle that's long appealed to retirees—but other destinations, from coastal California to scenic New England, are also popular. The ranking combines three factors: the share of homeowners aged 65 and up, the total value of homes in each market, and the estimated value held by older residents. The result is a snapshot of where retirees aren't just living—but where they're holding some of the most valuable pieces of the American housing pie. Advertisement The wealthiest retiree markets in America North Port-Bradenton, FL Real estate value held by homeowners aged 65 and up: $97 billion Share of homeowners aged 65 and up: 56% Median home price: $495,000 In this metro, located in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the coast, more than half of homeowners are boomers. North Port isn't strictly a beach town; the metro includes miles of coastline and many other popular destinations such as Venice Beach. This means retirees have options: either direct access to the beach, or proximate access without having to pay some of the steeper prices that come with the territory. They also own an estimated $97 billion of the roughly $174 billion real estate value in this metro. 7 The Sunshine State offers warm weather, no state income tax, and a lifestyle that's long appealed to retirees. Vane Nunes – Advertisement 7 The ranking combines three factors: the share of homeowners aged 65 and up, the total value of homes in each market, and the estimated value held by older residents. Naples-Marco Island, FL Real estate value held by homeowners aged 65 and up: $70 billion Share of homeowners aged 65 and up: 57% Median home price: $749,000 Also located on Florida's west coast, this area is known as the Sunshine State's Paradise Coast. It offers white-sand beaches, luxury resorts, and an abundance of outdoor activities, with more than 90 golf courses. With more homes within proximity to the water, the area has a higher price range, with the median list price of $749,000. The 65 and older age group owns about $70 billion out of the $122 billion real estate value in Naples-Marco Island. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Real estate value held by homeowners aged 65 and up: $54 billion Share of homeowners aged 65 and up: 47% Median home price: $995,000 Located roughly 40 miles north of San Francisco, this area is in Sonoma County, famed for its wine country and access to nature for active retirees. 'Santa Rosa as a whole is geared toward retirees,' Fermin Escutia, real estate agent at W Real Estate, tells 'Petaluma is the most affordable town north of San Francisco. The sizes of the homes are going to be smaller, but the draw is the small community feel with plenty of events.' Advertisement 7 Map of the U.S. showing top 10 metro areas where retirees hold the most real estate wealth. 7 Located roughly 40 miles north of San Francisco, this area is in Sonoma County, famed for its wine country and access to nature for active retirees. The scenic foggy metro comes at a cost, with a median list price of $995,000. Of the homeowners here, 47% are those aged 65 and up, and they hold roughly $54 billion of the $116 billion real estate value. Barnstable Town, MA (Cape Cod) Real estate value held by homeowners aged 65 and up: $34 billion Share of homeowners aged 65 and up: 53% Median home price: $899,250 Advertisement The Cape Cod region has been a favorite destination among retirees for years, and many are drawn here by the coastal charm despite the chilly New England weather, as well as a slower pace outside the Boston area. 'The summers are beautiful here, and Barnstable has little hidden gems and local villages and charm you can't discover in just one weekend,' Deborah Garner, a real estate agent with Kinlin Grover Compass, tells 7 Of the homeowners here, 47% are those aged 65 and up, and they hold roughly $54 billion of the $116 billion real estate value. But soaking up this classic charm full time comes at a cost, with a median list price of $899,250. New listings are down 6.5% from a year ago, and new construction in the Northeast is less active than in some Southern and Midwestern states, resulting in fewer options available. Homeowners aged 65 and up accounted for $34 billion out of the $64 billion real estate value. 'There is a generational effect where property gets passed down and families find it hard to part with homes,' says Garner. Advertisement Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Prescott-Prescott Valley, AZ Real estate value held by homeowners aged 65 and up: $27 billion Share of homeowners aged 65 and up: 58% Median home price: $669,000 In Arizona's Prescott-Prescott Valley market, those aged 65 and up own 58% of the homes. The Prescott area is known for its older demographic, with a median age of 60.3, while the Prescott Valley area tends to draw a younger crowd, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Arizona, as a state, is a popular destination for retirees, and Prescott-Prescott Valley offers a warm climate without the humidity found in Florida. Insurance costs are lower, too, due to the lack of hurricane threats. The median list price for the area comes in at $669,000, with those aged 65 and up owning $27 billion of the $47 billion real estate value.
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
Gen Z stare: Why young workers are giving blank looks and going viral
A new generational quirk is taking social media by storm as videos recreating the infamous "Gen Z stare" go viral. It is characterized by a blank, expressionless look in response to questions and has sparked both humor and heated debate across generations. The best way to explain the Gen Z stare is that it's a deadpan expression that often follows a simple greeting or question to those born between 1997 and 2009 leaves many older generations puzzled and sometimes frustrated. "This has been sort of bizarre," Brad Mielke, host of the ABC News' "Start Here" podcast, said on ABC News. "A lot of Gen Z folks are saying, 'Sorry, this is just the way we talk,' while others say this is more specific to customer service." The debate highlighted tensions in the retail and service industries. Some Gen Z workers defend the expression, citing increasingly unusual customer requests, Mielke noted. "I've been asked to make somebody's iced tea less cold," Mielke said of his conversations with young workers. "I've been asked to give them a cheeseburger without the cheese, but keep the pepper jack of it all." Even Gen Z members are noticing this trait in their peers. "You even have Gen Z-ers sort of noticing this in each other," Mielke said as he highlighted how the phenomenon has become a point of self-reflection within the generation. This isn't the first time technology and generational differences have created distinctive behavioral patterns. The cohort born between 1981 and 1996 have their "millennial pause" -- that awkward moment before starting a video to ensure it's recording. Baby boomers -- born between 1946 and 1964 -- became known for signing their text messages as if writing letters. "We've all got them," Mielke said of generational quirks. "Yet this is sort of the first time that Gen Z is sort of under fire from the rest of the generations being like 'this is a thing you do' and a lot of Gen Z-ers arguing over whether that is in fact true." Whether it's a genuine communication style or a passing trend, the Gen Z stare has certainly captured the attention of social media users and sparked a larger conversation about generational differences in communication.
The Hill
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
US housing shortage grew to record 4.7M units, Zillow says
The U.S. housing shortage recently grew to a record 4.7 million homes, fueling an affordable housing crisis that's pricing families out of the American dream, according to a new Zillow analysis. The real estate website examined the latest census data and found the nation's housing deficit grew by 159,000 homes in 2023 despite a homebuilding surge over the past five years. While that's less than the housing deficit increased in 2022, when it rose by 257,000 homes, the growth shows the pandemic construction boom hasn't been enough to narrow the gap. 'The unfortunate fact is that we still don't have enough housing in this country for people who need it,' Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow, said in the report. The shortage is driving an affordability crisis that is pushing millions of families to double up and live with nonrelatives. In 2023, 3.4 million homes sat vacant and available for rent or sale, while 8.1 million families shared their homes with unrelated individuals, Zillow determined. The 4.7 million-unit gap is what the company defines as the housing deficit. More recent data shows the number of homes for sale has ticked up this year, but elevated mortgage rates and high prices mean affordability remains a challenge. Those headwinds have made it especially difficult for younger, first-time homebuyers to get a foot in the door. Baby boomers recently overtook millennials and now account for the largest share of homebuyers. Millennials are also sharing housing with nonrelatives more than any other generation, making up 38 percent of the families 'doubling up' in 2023, Zillow found. Of the nation's 50 largest metros, New York City had the biggest housing deficit, short more than 400,000 units, according to Zillow. It's hardly surprising, considering New York is the most populous city in the country and the average home there is now worth nearly $800,000, making affordable housing increasingly out of reach. Los Angeles had the second-largest deficit, with more than 450,000 families doubling up in shared housing compared to just 115,000 available units. Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., also ranked among the top five largest housing deficits, although all three have seen their shortages improve from a year earlier. 10 metros with the largest housing deficits as of 2023 (Zillow analysis of Census data): There aren't enough affordable homes being built in the neighborhoods and cities where demand is highest. Part of the problem stems from strict zoning and building restrictions that have made new construction harder. But those rules vary widely from state to state and city to city, helping explain why some markets have become far less affordable than others. A recent Zillow analysis found that builders responded faster to the pandemic-era demand spike in areas with fewer building restrictions. Some of the cities that saw the largest builder response were Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas and Columbus, Ohio. Meanwhile, places like Seattle, Baltimore, Detroit, Orlando, Fla. and Washington, were metros where builders underbuilt relative to expectations. 'We know what works: lower building restraints to allow for more density and less expensive housing,' Divounguy said in a statement. A separate 2025 study from RAND found that the cost of building multifamily housing in California is more than twice as expensive as it is in Texas. Much of the difference, the report said, is driven by state and local policies that contribute to long permitting and construction timelines and higher local development fees. It's no wonder that California now has 113 cities where starter homes now cost over $1 million. But even outside the Golden State, homeownership is becoming unrealistic for the average family. A household earning the median income in the U.S. would need a $17,670 raise to comfortably afford the mortgage payments on a typical home, not to mention the additional funds required for a down payment. The good news? Builders completed 1.45 million units in 2023, followed by an even stronger 1.63 million in 2024, both the highest annual totals since 2007, Zillow said.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE leads the world in mobile shopping usage, global survey reveals
The UAE has been ranked first globally for mobile shopping usage, with 67% of consumers using their smartphones for their most recent purchase whether online or in-store, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The report places the UAE ahead of other tech-savvy markets like Saudi Arabia (66%) and Singapore (65%), cementing its position as a leader in digital retail engagement. Mobile Shopping Surges Across the UAE Smartphone usage for retail purchases in the UAE has grown by 23% since 2022, driven by demand for convenience, security, and seamless omnichannel experiences. The UAE also leads in online purchases via mobile devices at 37%, according to the survey, which was commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence. The study gathered insights from 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants between October 17 and December 9, 2024, across eight global markets. In-Store Shoppers Also Go Mobile While mobile is dominant online, it's also transforming the in-store shopping experience: 73% of UAE consumers use their phones in-store to compare prices, search for coupons, or collect loyalty rewards. This high engagement reflects a growing comfort with blended retail journeys, where the mobile device acts as a shopping assistant both digitally and physically. Generational Breakdown of Mobile Shopping Habits Although mobile shopping spans all age groups, adoption rates vary: Millennials lead with 73% adoption, the highest among all age groups. Gen X surprisingly outpaces Gen Z , highlighting a more established reliance on mobile shopping. , highlighting a more established reliance on mobile shopping. Baby boomers and seniors show much lower adoption, with only 18% using smartphones for their latest purchase. Security and Convenience Fuel Mobile Growth UAE consumers cite security and ease of use as key reasons for their high mobile engagement: 32% of users used biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) in their latest online transaction that is almost double the global average. One-third of shoppers chose one-click checkout via third-party platforms, far exceeding the global average of 17%. Cross-Channel Shopping on the Rise Consumers and businesses in the UAE are increasingly adopting cross-channel shopping features, allowing seamless transitions between online and offline retail: 53% of UAE shoppers already use or are interested in using cross-channel features. On the business side, 56% of merchants currently offer these options, while 28% plan to implement them. This alignment between consumer expectations and retailer offerings positions the UAE as a leader in digital commerce innovation. Daily Shopping Habits Highlight Mobile Preference According to the index: UAE shoppers perform 1.5 mobile shopping activities per day, second only to Saudi Arabia. They use mobile phones for product research an average of 17 days per month, preferring smartphones over computers across all digital shopping tasks.
