Mom-Preneur

With the labor pool set to shrink with the mass retirement of the Boomer population, self-named "mom-preneur" Ilyse Shapiro of the Philadelphia area has found a way to help. Her solution is www.MyPartTimePRO.com, a Web site specifically designed to connect experienced workers who may be thinking of hanging it up with part-time jobs that offer the flexibility they need.

"We need to keep as many bright, talented Americans in the workforce for as long as possible," says Shapiro. "However, many of today's workers don't want traditional, full-time employment. They are seeking positions that provide greater flexibility and work/life balance."

Shapiro says she's noticed some distinct trends among the generations: "To make ends meet, baby boomers are retiring from their full-time jobs, only to accept part-time employment. Gen Xers crave meaningful work as long as it's on their own schedule," she points out. "Meanwhile, Gen Yers would rather hold down several part-time jobs that provide a balance between career- and self-fulfillment."

Employers need to start "re-engineering" positions to survive, says Shapiro. "Full-time positions easily could be broken up into various short-term projects, or as a part-time job share opportunity," she explains. "Arrangements like this enable employers to 'think outside the box,' be more flexible, and hire the right talent for specific tasks."