What is the Super Age?

In less than a decade, at least 35 countries will have more than one out of five people over the age of 65 – a first in the history of the world. This is due largely to the intersection of the megatrends of decreased birthrates and increased longevity – more commonly known as population aging.

In 2020, the United States noted its lowest birthrate on record, China witnessed a population decrease for the first time since 1949, and Japan lost about half a million people. Three quarters of G20 countries have birthrates below the replacement rate, and it is estimated that our global population will stop growing sometime this century.

Our guest says, that this change is speeding up all around us, it is upending social and economic norms, and it’s changing the way your organization does business and it’s affecting your bottom line.

My guest this week, Bradley Schurman, is a demographic futurist and opinion maker on all things dealing with the business of longevity. You might know him as the author of the forthcoming book from HarperCollins, The Super Age: Decoding our Demographic Destiny, or for the groundbreaking AARP Aging Readiness and Competitiveness Report. Bradley is a social connector that has built his reputation by helping leading organizations harness the opportunities of our increasingly older and generationally diverse populations. His insights inform national leaders and c-suite executives around the world.

Brad and I discussed the findings from his research, and we spent time focusing on how aging does not necessarily affect all of us the same way. As with every structure in our society, there are vulnerable populations who experience more harm than those in dominant identity groups.

Brad offered some solid strategies for leaders to consider the workforce of the future as well as the needs of our increasingly aging consumer populations. Regardless of what industry you belong to, the size or location of your organization, the findings of Brad’s book affect you.