Everybody needs a source of income to survive. Whether living in the big cities or living in the outback country, money is the medium of exchange accepted by everybody in the world to do commerce and exchange goods. Sure there are still barter system being used for those outback places, but eventually this will make way to a monetary system that is far more convenient and reliable.
But with the current state of constant changes in the commerce world, the reliance of being a salaried employee for a lifetime employment is no longer as rosy as before. We can read in the papers whenever a company is not doing well, some of the cost cutting measures has always been to trim off workers. Redundancy they call it. It is one thing to read about it in the papers and quite very different if you are the one being laid off. And if it happens to you, you will ask, "What do you mean I am redundant? No longer useful for the company?" Well, that's just it. Redundant. No longer useful to the company.
They may give you some severance package but usually this will last you for a short time, and you will need to spend the time and effort to look for another job. If you have a family to feed, and you are the sole bread winner, the pressure is on you to quickly find another job. It is not nice being out of work and desperately needing an income. Especially if the market is flooded with job seekers and your skill set is not much different from the rest.
Company may also be looking for young dynamic go getters rather than hiring an older person. For one, their pay is cheaper, they may have more energy, they may be more enthusiastic and though they may have a lack of experience, it makes them more eager to learn.
Job security? This word is no longer available for hired salary worker. No, the new economy where a person becomes an entrepreneur and knows how to create his own business anytime without anything, that's where the security is. No longer does company give a lifetime employment. Even in Japan the work culture is changing. They are one of the few countries I know where the salary man gets a lifetime of employment and usually the company they are working in is the company they will ever work for life!
If you are still holding on to a job, kudos to you. But you should consider doing something on a part time basis, not just to complement your income and make it a second income source, but to learn how to start running your very own small home business. You will never know the skills you learn can be an additional invaluable knowledge for your current work as well, thus boosting your potential demand in the job market. Or if you decided you want to be your very own boss and fire your company instead of them firing you; hey, anything is possible!
So give yourself some thought about where you want to head in your life. Most people do not have a plan for themselves. Just doing things aimlessly letting the winds of change blowing them to and fro. Like Jim Rohn said, "You may not be able to control the direction of the wind, but you sure can change the direction of your sail boat and stir the boat."
But usually most people will just read articles like this and just throw it one side and say, "Nah, this is not for me. I'm living comfortably with my current job. I feel great and I don't want to spend the time running around doing anything extra when I can just rest and relax." I was like this too. Living in the comfort zone. But there will come a time, an event in your life that will really jolt you to realize that you will need to do something in your life, or life will pass you by and left you wondering what you did wrong.
So give it some thought and think it through and consider your options.
Related link:
Starting your own home business
Many people feel the need to regain some aspect of their working life. Answering to bosses whims and demanding orders is a sure way of losing control. Worse are those that has a distinct look down upon their subordinates thinking they are the king of the hill and grinding their employees like some soldiers in the battlefield. 
