The silver generation: Use its decades of experience to fill skill shortages afflicting the global economy

The world is facing a skills shortage in key sectors and leveraging the talents of the silver generation—professionals aged 50 and above—emerges as a valuable yet underutilized way of addressing it. For example, India’s renowned information technology talent could address Europe’s tech shortages while UK retirees with financial expertise could overcome key labour shortages in emerging financial hubs in the Middle east and North Africa. The advent of artificial intelligence tools could further disrupt labour flows and causes concern in parts of the world where skill and labour shortages in key sectors will have to be plugged by either reengaging older workers or through immigration or both. By matching labour shortages in key regions with the available expertise across borders, it is possible to address these global skill gaps effectively, often through remote or short-term arrangements. As migration policies become more restrictive and labour shortages worsen, the silver generation offers a sustainable solution that can complement or even replace traditional immigration.