Midlife career shift and the slumping economy

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota has lost jobs for the last four months in a row, and thousands more jobs are expected to be lost before things get better.

What happens to workers in their 50s and 60s who experience an unwelcome layoff? And those lucky enough to still have their jobs wonder if they will be able to make a mid-career change in these uncertain economic times.

Damian Birkel: Founder of Professionals in Transition and author of "Career Bounce-Back!" He is a job counselor who changed careers after being laid off.

Marc Freedman: Author of "Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life." He's the founder of Civic Ventures.

Dan McElroy: Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.