Most Baby Boomers Underestimate Disability Risk
KANSAS CITY (PRNewswire), March 10, 2008 - Most Baby Boomers underestimate their risk of suffering a disability that would cause them to miss work for an extended period of time, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).
The survey also found that Baby Boomers are unaware of the most common causes of disability and are not too concerned about their risk of becoming disabled.
"Baby Boomers' lack of awareness of their risk of disability presents a significant threat to their financial security," said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP. "When individuals underestimate their risk of disability, they are less likely to protect their income and are more vulnerable to the financial hardship that suffering a disability can cause."
The survey found that just over a third of Baby Boomers think the chances of becoming disabled due to illness or injury is 5 percent or less, a slight majority think the chances are 10 percent or less, and two-thirds think the chances are 20 percent or less. In reality, a worker has a 30% chance of suffering a disabling injury or illness causing him or her to miss three or more months of work before reaching retirement, according to the Social Security Administration.
The survey also found that nearly half (47 percent) of Baby Boomers say they are not too concerned about their chances of suffering a disabling illness or injury.
One of the reasons Baby Boomers underestimate their risk is because they are unaware of the most common causes of disability, mistakenly believing that injuries cause more disabilities than illnesses. According to the survey, Boomers believe the most common causes of disability are back, muscle or joint problems (26 percent), injuries on the job (18 percent) and injuries off the job (16 percent).
In actuality, research shows that the most common causes of disability are illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
"The survey shows that Baby Boomers need to be better educated about the risks and causes of disability to ensure they take appropriate steps to protect themselves," said Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of the Harris Poll.
The survey did find that most Baby Boomers accurately believe they are more likely to suffer a disability than premature death and that most disabilities occur outside of the workplace.
Hiring Demand Remains Strong for Accounting Specialists
KANSAS CITY (PRNewswire), March 10, 2008 - Four percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Kansas City area plan to add accounting and finance staff during the second quarter of 2008 and 4 percent anticipate reductions in personnel, according to the most recent Robert Half International Financial Hiring Index. The majority of respondents, 91 percent, expect no change in hiring.
The local results reflect a two-quarter rolling average based on interviews with 200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the Kansas City area with 20 or more employees; 1,400 CFOs were queried for the national data.
The studies were conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half International, the world's largest staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance. Robert Half has been tracking financial hiring activity in the United States since 1992.
"Despite the more conservative financial hiring outlook in Kansas City, demand remains strong for specialists to support general accounting, internal control and compliance initiatives," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "Sustained hiring has resulted in an increasingly shallow talent pool in these areas, and many employers report challenges in finding professionals with the requisite skills."
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Fourth Annual Bright Future Employment Fair
KANSAS CITY (kansascityfrontpage.com), February 10, 2008 - The City of Kansas City, MO, Youth Advocacy Office, a division of the City Manager's Office, will sponsor the fourth annual Bright Future Employment Fair on March 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St.
Kansas City, MO, residents ages 15-22 who are interested in paid positions (full-time, part-time, seasonal, etc.) will have the opportunity to interview with a wide variety of employers.
"This program brings public and private sector employers together with the common goal of building a stronger work force for the future," City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen said. "One of the real benefits is that the candidates are pre-screened, which allows companies and government entities to select the employee that best suits their needs."
Applicants will have the opportunity to be interviewed and immediately hired by the more than 90 companies and City departments. Nearly 2,000 young people have been employed in the four years of the program.
The employment fair is sponsored by the City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Full Employment Council, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Monster and Making it Count.
Past employers include Walton Construction, AMC, Bank of America, the Kansas City Zoo and the Federal Reserve Bank.
Workshops and mock interviews for applicants will be facilitated by Making It Count, a subsidiary of the Monster Company. Human Resource professionals from organizations such as Sprint and the Diamond Network will help with the mock interviews prior to the employment fair.
Young people and employers can register for the Bright Future Employment Fair at www.kcmo.org/youth . The deadline for young people is March 1 and for employers it is March 22.
For more information, call the Youth Employment Line, (816) 513-1276. Young people also are encouraged to call the Youth Resource Line, (816) 513-1377, to hear the latest news about opportunities available through the Youth Advocacy Office.
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