Canada's Babyboomer Crunch

CANADA - The Babyboomer Crunch is Coming! Run for your lives!

For reference a Babyboomer is anyone born between 1946 and 1964, a period of intense post-war fornication (Laugh) during which approx. 72% extra babies were born in the USA and Canada. Because it also lasted 19 years it was a blip so big its been described as a the Pig in the Python due to the sheer size and volume, a demographic group so big it resulted in society following suit with whatever the Babyboomers were doing.

Babyboomers are now entering their 60s and starting to retire. You probably know a few who are already retired, choosing to do so early. But what is of note is that the number of seniors will outnumber the number of children (age 14 or under) in Canada by 2015 and that means changing priorities as Canada's government will shift its focus to keeping the old Babyboomers happy while ignoring education for our children.

Blame our wonderful health care system for keeping them alive so long.

Indeed Canada’s population is expected to exceed 40 million by 2036. According to Statistics Canada it could be as high as 47.7 million if our health care system and quality of life continues to get better and better at the rate it currently is doing so. Population growth is expected to explode in Ontario and British Columbia whereas Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to see only marginal population growth.

The problem with so many Babyboomers is that it will create a plethora of problems but also create a crunch time for jobs. The Babyboomers have saved up a sizable nest egg and will no doubt want to enjoy some of it, which will mean economic good times for industries that cater to the elderly (ie. Tourism, entertainment, sports, pharmaceuticals, etc) and eventually good times for the funeral industry. The problem will be Canada's shortage of skilled labour. There will be no shortage of jobs available and Canada will need to bring in foreign workers to help with all the work keeping the darn Babyboomers happy.

In other news if you're a Babyboomer and looking for a good city to retire to, well then 4 Canadian cities were recently ranked in the top 25 cities in the world to live in, according to the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.

#4. Vancouver.
#14. Ottawa.
#16. Toronto.
#21. Montreal.
#28. Calgary.

Its interesting to note that no American cities made it into the top 30. The best was Honolulu at 31.

See Also:
The Babyboomers' Tab