Got Millennials Figured Out? It’s Time to Move On to Gen Z.

There has been a lot of discussion in the past ten years about Millennials (Gen Y) and how different they are to hire and manage than Gen X is. For the most part, we have figured out how to deal with this generation, and most would say that it has worked out for the best. But don’t get too comfortable. Gen Z is now starting to enter the workforce. Wondering what they will be like? Let’s take a look.

To get started, let’s review some of what we know about Millennials (GenY).

• This generation is made up of people born between 1977 and 1997.
• They are the first generation to have lived most of their lives with constant access to digital communications, media and information technology. This means that they have an expectation of technology in the workplace which has been a difficult transition for some businesses.
• They are much more interested in finding a job that they enjoy and that is in alignment with their personal values than any generation before them.
• They do not have any expectation of long-term loyalty from the companies they work for, so they do not hold the same sense of long-term loyalty toward them. This outlook developed from watching as Mom and Dad (Gen X) struggled after being let go from their 10-, 15- and 20-year long careers as big companies downsized.

There are about 80 million people in this generation and one statistic has predicted that by 2025, 75% of the workforce will be from this generation. The big positive that has come out of Millennials entering the workplace is that it has forced businesses to strive to be a better place to work. A change that all generations have been able to enjoy.

Now let’s review some of what we know about Gen Z.

• This generation is made up of people born after 1997. As of this writing, this makes the oldest of this generation around 22.
• They are the first generation of true “digital natives”. A generation that has always had access to the internet, computers, smartphones and similar technology. According to statistics from the Center for Generational Kinetics, 95% of Gen Z (ages 13-22) currently has a smartphone and more than half of them use their smartphones 5 or more hours per day.
• Social media is a BIG part of their life, and they use different social media platforms to achieve their goals. Gen Z looks for information and follow influencers on social media to help make their buying and employment decisions.
• They are used to operating in an “instant gratification” world. Want a book? Download it to your tablet. Need a ride? Summon an Uber driver from your phone. Wondering what your friends are doing? Message all of them, and they will message you right back.

It will take some time to fully understand how this generation will both adapt to and change their workplace, but here are a few things that we are likely to expect that is different than Millennials.

• The use of mobile technology as part of their working day including social media, messaging, information and learning access. Their smartphones rarely leave their hands outside of work, so they will want them to be apart of their day at work.
• An open and collaborative workplace that mimics their educational experience. Millennials were the first to learn how to deal with this environment as businesses moved to open office concepts. Gen Z will expect it.
• Quick, accurate and constant feedback from their supervisors and co-workers as a by-product of their “instant gratification” lives. Effective communication channels with this generation will be vital to success.

Here are a few things that we are likely to expect that is similar to Millennials.

• They will continue to want access to the latest technology. This is a generation that is constantly anticipating the newest smartphone and video gaming console. They will want their companies to stay on the cutting edge of technology as well.
• They will continue to want employment that they enjoy and feel good about being a part of. This will require businesses to continue to have a better understanding of what they do, why they do it and how that provides value.
• They will continue to feel no sense of long-term loyalty to the companies they work for and may likely grow into a generation that is only interested in working on a project-by-project basis.

So, the good news is we don’t have to start over. We learned a lot from the integration of Millennials into the workforce that will carry over to Gen Z. I personally feel that Millennial’s influence has made many, many businesses better than they would have been without them. I look forward to seeing Gen Z do the same.

What are your thoughts on Gen Z? Leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.