Q: When the dam finally breaks and the nation's baby boomers retire, what can we expect? Paint us a picture.

A: Baby boomers are staying in the workforce longer than expected. Nevertheless, between 2010 and 2020, there will be 20 million new jobs in addition to 33 million job openings resulting from baby boomer retirements. Certain occupations will be more affected than others. For example, one-third of all nurses are over 55 years old. Healthcare is one-fifth of the economy, and these professions require several years of classroom education and several years of on-the-job training to be work-ready.

Anthony Carnevale, executive director of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, shares his views on the importance of middle-skill jobs to the U.S. economy, and the role community colleges play in putting students to work. Read full article...