New research from Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has revealed a growing number of over 50s are considering changing careers or changing their working hours to facilitate travel plans.
The study, which explores the key reasons for over 50s changing career and returning to work, found that almost three quarters (73%) are considering changing their working patterns to allow them to fulfil their dreams to travel.
The research comes as Hilton announces plans to fill almost 400 job vacancies across the UK, with a view to helping those over 50 who are seeking employment to get back into work. Spanning hotels across the country, jobs are available in departments including food and beverage, front office, housekeeping, culinary, engineering and events.
More than a third (34%) of over 50s cited burnout from their current office-based role as a key driver for looking for a change of role, resulting in a desire to challenge themselves in a new environment (75%) and move away from desk jobs in search of something more active (44%).
For many, seeing their children fly the nest has created more space to pursue a new path. More than a quarter (26%) of those who have children are looking to increase their working hours or change career paths now that their kids have left home.
Sociable, flexible roles are key
Hospitality and travel (33%) emerged as the most popular industry for over 50s open to a change of career, with flexible working hours, which can allow greater freedom to travel, highlighted as one of the key benefits (45%). Other advantages cited include the customer-facing nature of roles (42%), working with others of different ages (39%) and opportunities to take on a more active, less sedentary role (35%).
The social nature of the industry was also noted as one of the main benefits for almost a third of people (30%), with almost one in five (19%) over 50s looking for opportunities to work in a more sociable environment.
Steve Cassidy, senior vice president and managing director, UK&I, Hilton said: “With most working lives stretching through several decades, people are increasingly exploring a second career later in life. This growing trend is leading to an upsurge in demand for roles that offer something wholly different – and hospitality has a role to suit every path – whether that’s more flexibility to travel, a more active working life away from a traditional desk job, or a pathway back into work after a period of looking after family members.”
Intergenerational learning
As workforces are becoming increasingly diverse, Hilton’s research also investigated how different generations work together.
Three in five (60%) over 50s said they can learn from working with those younger than themselves, while more than a quarter (26%) specifically cited wanting to spend more time with Gen Z as a reason for looking to change career. When asked about social motivators for work, almost two thirds (64%) of over 50s want to work with people from different backgrounds. More than a quarter (28%) said they specifically wanted to learn from Gen Z coworkers.
This works both ways. More than three quarters (77%) of Gen Z respondents said they can learn from older colleagues, with leadership (44%) and problem solving (40%), communication (39%) and organisational skills (39%) being areas most cited where over 50s excel.