That Let Them Help Others
Mountain View, Calif. (June 2010) – According to a new survey conducted by AcademixDirect (www.academixdirect.com), Baby Boomers attending online schools are not just doing it to find better job opportunities – many altruistic Boomers are doing it to help others and make a difference.
“In this economy, people of all ages are seeking online retraining to secure new jobs in high growth fields,” said Karen Francis, CEO of education marketing firm AcademixDirect. “In our recent survey of Baby Boomers, AcademixDirect found that 46.4 percent of Boomers were taking online courses to get new jobs, mirroring a national trend. What’s interesting is their motivation: 33 percent want more job opportunities and 32 percent want to find jobs in which they can help others and make a difference. This suggests that Boomers have more than job security or increased earnings on their mind. It’s an interesting finding, given that many assume younger generations are more altruistic than older generations.”
The top field of choice for Baby Boomers pursuing online degrees is healthcare, a good selection given that this sector will continue to grow as the Baby Boomers themselves age. Another popular choice is childhood education.
Below are more results from AcademixDirect’s survey of its database of people born between the years of 1946 and 1965 interested in and/or pursuing online degrees.
Boomers are Altruistic and Pragmatic
Boomers were almost equally divided in their reason for pursuing a new field between job opportunities (33%) and to help others/make a difference (32.3%).
Healthcare Is Top Field of Choice
Survey respondents indicated that healthcare is their top field of choice (15% pursuing this field), which follows the trend of online students of all ages.
Nursing Top Job of Choice
Nursing was the most popular healthcare- related job choice (15%), followed by healthcare administration/billing (8%).
Other Popular Desired Jobs
Other popular jobs desired by Baby Boomers are childhood education teaching positions and accounting jobs (8%).
Age Not a Factor in Online Learning
Not only are many Boomers pursuing online degrees, 61.2% of those surveyed said they would recommend online learning to their friends, children and grandchildren.
Baby Boomer Dream Jobs
AcademixDirect asked Baby Boomers what their dream job would be and answers ranged from the humorous (any job is a dream job), to the poignant (a job that helps me not lose my house and investment properties I worked so hard to secure), to the practical (surgical nurse, small business owner, teacher, accountant).
Other responses:
- • To help children make something of themselves
- • Working with kids and make a positive difference in a child’s life
- • A job that earns me $1,000,000 a year
- • A job where I can work less and make more money
- • Forensic specialist
- • Massage therapist on a cruise ship
About AcademixDirect (www.academixdirect.com)
As the leading education marketing company focused entirely on higher education, AcademixDirect is a trusted partner creating tailored solutions for improving university enrollment. AcademixDirect strives to innovate better ways to connect college-bound students with the schools that will help them succeed. To that end, the company deploys advanced technology that incorporates a proprietary matching algorithm, fraud detection software, lead scoring and targeting capabilities, as well as a unique customer-centric approach to create value for both educational institutions and students.