They’re not the silent generation. Hidden from the spotlight until now, Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1981) have quietly become the next generation of workforce leaders, rising to C-suite level positions, as they take on new roles and talk about hiring for positions that don’t exist yet.

At the same time Gen Xers are juggling the heightened responsibilities at work, they’re navigating more responsibilities at home as they take care of kids and aging parents. The generation is characterized by their independence and entrepreneurialism — according to a 2015 study, 55% of startup founders are Gen Xers.

How will this new generation of leaders continue to shape the future of work? One Detroit producer and Future of Work host Will Glover talk with Michigan Works! Association CEO Ryan Hundt about how much back-filling Generation X will need to manage as some Baby Boomers leave the workforce. 

RELATED: Future of Work Town Hall: The High Cost of Baby Boomers

Plus, they discuss what Gen X business leaders and city officials need to focus on to grow Michigan’s workforce and prepare people for the jobs that don’t exist yet.

This town hall continues One Detroit’s cumulative, ongoing conversation involving the future of work and workforce development in Michigan.

Future of Work Town Hall Participants:

In his role as Chief Executive Officer, Ryan connects with various stakeholders to generate enthusiasm for workforce development policies and priorities that will positively impact Michigan businesses and workers. To accomplish these objectives, Ryan focuses on building cooperation across the state, while orchestrating the efforts of the Michigan Works! staff, board members, and other stakeholders toward common goals that reflect the needs of the workforce development system. 

Prior to joining the Michigan Works! Association, Ryan spent eight years with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Most recently, Ryan served as a Regional Director of Growth & Development at the MEDC, where he led a team focused primarily on business retention and expansion.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Oakland University in 2011.

Ryan believes that anything can be accomplished through teamwork, dedication, and a positive attitude. He uses these characteristics to build strategic working relationships, using a collaborative atmosphere as the foundation for success.

For Detroit PBS’s Future of Work initiative, One Detroit news and current events producer Will Glover leads conversations with business, economic, education, human resources, and policy experts to dive deep into Michigan’s workplace, workforce and the work itself to understand how we could create, retain and attract the talent needed to innovate and make Michigan a competitive top ten state across multiple industries.

Glover studied film at Eastern Michigan University and received his Associate Degree in Digital Video Production & Documentary Film from Washtenaw Community College. Whether it’s underwriting voice-overs or producing stories for One Detroit, you’ll hear his voice throughout Detroit Public TV programming. Glover’s focus is on his craft: finding the stories and voices that capture the truth.

Support for this Future of Work Town Hall is provided by:

Additional Future of Work support provided by: