What this means is a greater demand for technological skills, either to fill jobs in new industries or to perform existing job functions more efficiently. It's a unique opportunity. It appears the young are simply charging fresh out of the gate with the necessary tools. Cheryl Touchton, chief executive officer of Pathtech Software, said she sees about an even split between the number of young and older employees armed with the right skill sets. Many of her employees returned to school to get a second or third degree in computer science and are keeping pace fine in the market.
Computer programming is an example of how the tools are just more available to a younger generation.
Basic, an early computer programing language, may have been the only computer language taught to some students 20 years ago. And while Basic is still taught and it paved the way for other programming languages, it is being outpaced by new languages. According to the National Center for Education, many older workers are keeping pace and returning for further education. It is not that uncommon to see someone my age in an influential position and even being successful in this industry. But if you go work at a bank, I guarantee you will not see the same thing.