Career Transitions and Trajectories for a Diverse Workforce: A Special Focus on Women and Older Workers

Introduction

The definition of career and the nature of career transitions are constantly in flux. A recent statement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2014) highlights this: “The BLS never has attempted to estimate the number of times people change careers in the course of their working lives. The reason we have not produced such estimates is that no consensus has emerged on what constitutes a career change” (FAQ about National Longitudinal Surveys, para. 23).

Seemingly gone are the days when one began working for and then retired from the same company with a pension in hand. Those entering the workforce today can expect to experience multiple changes in their work lifetimes -- not just job changes, but career changes. College students do not expect to stay in a career tied specifically to their chosen major in college. They do not expect to stay with their first job for more than two years. They do expect that they will take a break from work at some point, maybe to pursue other interests or maybe to raise a family, or both. They do expect to work, in some capacity, well beyond the typical retirement age. A close examination of the changes that have taken place within the make-up of the workforce illustrates the reason for the above shifts in career expectations.

The concepts of the “career” and “career transitions” have changed over time. Careers are much more fluid, and career boundaries are much less defined. One reason for these changes is the overwhelming increase in the diversity of the workforce. With a greater variety of people pursuing employment, organizations and individuals alike are faced with the realization that we need to change our expectations of what it means to have a “career.”

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the impact that diversity can have on career transitions and trajectories. We will discuss not only how diversity impacts individuals and their career decisions, but also how organizations can actively adapt work arrangements and career development initiatives to best capitalize on these changes. We focus specifically on two groups that have been a popular focus of researchers and organizations alike, women and older workers. Thus, the chapter addresses the following objectives:

• 1.

  To outline the importance of recent and future societal changes on career development and career transitions.

• 2.

  To discuss the differences in traditional vs. modern career stage theories and perspectives.

• 3.

  To cite specific demographic changes in today’s workforce, which exemplify how career trajectories have changed in recent years.

• 4.

  To explore unique career issues of women and older workers, along with some organizational work arrangements that attempt to address a number of these issues.

• 5.

  To provide guidance to individuals exploring personal career transitions.

• 6.

  To provide guidance to organizations in their talent development programs, discouraging the “one-size-fits-all approach” to career development.

• 7.

  To discuss future trends in personal career development and organizational talent management with regards to changes in the diversity of the workforce.