They clarify, however, that it may take two or three years before you'll start to see spot shortages.
And, Bluestone adds, they were conservative in their growth projections — projecting 1 percent per year, as opposed to growth of 2 percent or more in prior recoveries.
The findings suggest that 14.6 million new nonfarm jobs will be added to payrolls between 2008 and 2018 and that by the end of that span, five million could be unfilled.
Such a loss of output would cost the economy as much as $3 trillion over five years, the study suggests.
Now, I know what you're thinking — But aren't Boomers staying in the workforce longer so they make up the gaping hole in their retirement savings?
Yes, and the study suggests that even that may not be enough to stave off a labor shortage.
So, the study takes it a step further, suggesting that the potential for such shortages means encouraging workers 55 and older to engage in "encore careers" — in places where there will be the biggest shortages — "will be vital to meeting work-force shortages and critical social needs.”
The study lists 15 jobs that will provide the largest number of “encore career” opportunities. Not surprisingly, many of them are in health care: