Ricoh Mexicana
By 2020, millennials will make up 50% of the workforce. But how is the arrival of generation Z impacting organizations? 2018 was the second year since the entry into the labor market of the so-called generation Z, who represent almost 26% of the world's population. In other words, this is the most numerous generation on the planet. Their entry into the professional world is already a challenge. That of the coexistence of up to four generations in the workplace: the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964 and in most cases about to retire; the X generation, born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s; the millennials or generation Y, born between 1981 and 1994, and generation Z.
What are the characteristics of the generation of centennials and what are the young people of generation Z looking for?
The main defining characteristic of those born between 1995 and 2010 is that they are the first 100% digital generation, hyperconnected and able to control up to 5 screens at the same time.
These digital natives have also grown up in the context of the economic crisis. This has driven them to be very mature, self-sufficient, self-taught and creative. 33% learn via tutorials on the Internet. More than 20% read on tablets and electronic devices. And 32% do all their homework online.
They are also committed young people, with a high sense of responsibility towards society and the planet. They are demanding, think globally and that everything is interconnected. The Internet is their primary means of communication and the cell phone is an indispensable tool. Their lives, both personal and professional, are closely linked to technology and many of them would like to dedicate themselves to it, according to the Job Today report1.
In the current labor context, marked by a lack of information and communication technology specialists, the entry of these professionals is excellent news. According to the World Economic Forum's latest report on young people2, Generation Z is confident in the power of technology to create new jobs. Nearly 30% believe that the technology with the greatest impact will be artificial intelligence.
couple sitting on bench near building during daytime
Photo by Ola Kucha on Unsplash
What are centennials like at work?
As employees, they are pragmatic, realistic and not very prone to job instability, which differentiates them from millennials. They also prefer to work in SMEs to gain experience and then move on to large companies. This is evidenced by the 2017 Graduate Employment Study3 report. Only 18% of recent graduates would want a large company for their first job. However, as they gain experience, their expectations of working in larger companies increase.
Beyond salary, for Generation Z it is important for them to share the values of the company where they work and to feel that their work contributes to improving society. According to the Job Today study, 60% of these young people aspire to a job that has an impact on the world. In addition, they are willing to live anywhere in the world as they do not understand borders.
Their main objectives at work are stability, training opportunities and professional development. The ideal environment for them is creative and flexible, with work organized by projects. For this reason, they value, for example, flexible hours and being able to work from wherever they want. They do not want authoritarian bosses. They prefer mentors who are able to manage collaborative and creative teams. They need their opinion to be heard and taken into account and to have constant feedback.
How to adapt your company to the arrival of generation Z?
To meet the needs of this new generation, your company must adapt to the characteristics of these employees and adopt new ways of working that meet their expectations.
Go beyond qualifications. The fact that many of these young people are self-taught means that they have no qualifications. Therefore, companies should put degrees on the back burner when hiring.
Create creative, flexible, communicative and collaborative environments. This generation's top workplace skills are communication and collaboration. In their ideal work environment, these young people want a participative and open communication environment that fosters creativity and teamwork. They also need the flexibility that new technologies bring, so they can better reconcile their work and personal lives.
Encourage digital skills. With all the technological background of these young people, organizations should encourage the use of technology and digital skills of their workers. However, this is one of the great unresolved issues for companies. According to a recent Gartner report4 , only between 7% and 18% of companies globally have the digital skills needed to adopt new work solutions. Therefore, it is essential that you increase the training of your employees in this area and that you accompany them in the change. Create truly digital work environments.
Propose challenges and continuous learning opportunities. Generation Z has a great capacity to adapt to different situations and environments. Therefore, they need continuous learning and changes that provide opportunities for career development with personalized plans.
Transform your organization towards a horizontal structure. As we have seen, Generation Z does not tolerate hierarchical bosses, but seeks leaders with whom to talk and share their ideas. Therefore, one of the keys is to convert your organization into a horizontal structure. In addition, you should implement a structure that promotes independence of roles and teamwork, encouraging professionals to perform different functions in their work.
1 | https://static.jobtoday.com/content/generacion-z-j...
2 | https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/08/global-shap...
