What is Gen U?  It stands for Generation Un-retired.

This is the biggest paradigm shift in the labor pool of the U.S. since World War II.

The AARP says that 8 out of 10 baby boomers will work part- or full-time past retirement age.

That’s 64 million unretiring Americans, the biggest demographic shift in the American workforce since WWII—and 93% of the growth in the American labor market from now until 2016, according to the Pew Research Center.

Welcome to “Gen U”—Generation Unretired—America’s newest, bona fide workforce segment. Granted, the high unemployment rate makes any hire seem like a far-off fantasy at the moment. But whether they are hired as consultants, full- or part-timers, as the economy brightens, Gen Uers are here to stay.

Interesting Tips on how to take advantage of this new workforce can be found in a November 17, 2009 Newsweek Article by Lynn Taylor, called “How to Manage Gen U“.

There is another issue with this new paradigm shift: Gen U is on a direct collsion course with the throngs of unemployed Gen X, Y and I who are either just entering the employment arena in their late teens; are graduating from college and setting out to start their careers, in their early to mid 20s or have been in the job market, are in their 30s and are trying to secure their highest lifetime earning levels as experienced workers.

This is definitely two worlds colliding. The U.S. could not be in a worse position for this to occur, with more than 10% unemployment and economic strife a daily reality. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this shift. Will more of the Gen U job seekers actually begin to create businesses and additional jobs? Or, will this be more like two high speed trains accidentally switched to the same track and heading for each other at 60mph?

I will be watching to see what is next. Certainly, with my background as a Job Placement Expert, I am interested to see what happens when these two major forces begin to collide and create a shift in the job market, as well as the “new” economy.