Generations in the workforce

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The working environment has gone through a major transformation over the last decades, particularly in terms of population in the workforce. The generations dominating the workforce in 2024 are baby boomers, Generation X, millennials and Generation Z. The coming decades will see further changes with emergence of newer generations, and slower removal of older generations from organisations as pension age is pushed out. Many reports, including a publication by Therese Kinal and Olga Hypponen of Unleash, warn that understanding differences between the generations, and learning to adapt their management practices is critical to building a successful multigenerational workplace. [1] [2]

Contents

Baby boomers

Baby boomers are people born approximately between 1946 and 1964, [3] directly after the resolution of World War II. The United States experienced a greatly elevated birth rate after the war, causing this generation to be one of the largest in a century. [4] Boomers who have had careers tend to have a strong sense of company loyalty and many take pride at having worked at the same company for decades. Many modern Boomers are retiring or are retired, and this creates concerns for some as traditional retirement systems and pensions that many have paid into for years become uncertain. Baby Boomers have been often ascribed as technology resistant, and slower to adopt computers and smart phones than more recent generations who have grown up with them. This has created a sharp divide in how Boomers and modern generations see and interact with the world, including relationships, consumption of media, news sources, and spending habits. For example, Baby Boomers are the largest consumers of cable television today, while modern generations frequently do not see cable television as a priority. [5]

Boomers were brought up in a healthy post war economy and saw the world revolving around them as the largest generation of the century. [4] Their lifestyle is to live for work and they often expect the same level of dedication and work ethics from the next generations. They are said to prefer face to face communication, are interactive team players and attain personal fulfilment from work. Baby Boomers are often branded workaholics leaving little to no work-life balance which has inevitably led to a breakdown in family values which has influenced the next generation. [1] [2] [6] They are said to be loyal to their organisations, enjoy the notion of lifetime employment and prefer to be valued or needed as opposed to rewarded with recognition or money. An article by Emma Simon in the Daily Telegraph describes them as the 'post war generation' who have enjoyed an "unbroken run of good-luck". [7]

Generation X

Generation X is the generation born after the Western post–World War II baby boom, between approximately 1965 and 1980. [8] The term was noted by photographer Robert Capa in the early 1950s. Of the generation, Capa said "We named this unknown generation, The Generation X, and even in our first enthusiasm we realised that we had something far bigger than our talents and pockets could cope with." [9]

This generation of workers were brought up in the shadow of the influential Boomer generation and as a result, are independent, resilient and adaptable. In contrast to the Baby Boomers who live to work, this generation works to live and carry with them a level of cynicism. [6] [10] They prefer freedom to manage their work and tasks their own way. They consider a job to be just that, and are comfortable questioning authority.

Coming out of and during the recession, there has been a significant shift in Gen X moving to management roles. Perceptions of Gen X managers are high according to an online survey published by Ernst & Young. Out of 200 people, 57% of respondents believed that Gen X displayed each of the survey’s positive characteristics and were thought to be best at managing through difficult times. [11]

Millennials (Generation Y)

Millennials, or Generation Y, were born approximately between 1981 and 1996. [3] They have been described in a report published by United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund as the next big generation after the Baby Boomers. [6] They were raised during the good time or empowerment years and are the first generation to grow up with computers and the internet. In her book, The Shift: The future of work is already here, Grattan states that this generation admire these new platforms they use even though they grew up with them. [8]

Millennials are hard working, resourceful, and imaginative. They readily take on and solve new problems and technologies with which they were previously unfamiliar with, and are known for their ability to fix problems. They were the first generation to grow up with computers and the internet, and are considered the first true "technology natives". They are also, on average, more educated than previous generations, with around 47% having a post-secondary degree as of 2013. [12] They are currently the backbone of the American workforce, making up the largest portion at 38%, [13] especially as Gen X and boomers continue to age out of the workforce. 73 percent of millennials reporting working more than 40 hours a week and nearly a quarter work more than 50 hours a week. [14]

A report published by Adecco on workplace revolution outlined Gen Y’s work ethics and behaviours. According to the report, they enjoy a work life balance, akin to Gen X, and prefer to work with bright and creative people. They are participative as opposed to directive, enjoy multi-tasking and are goal oriented. They are also considered the most educated and self-aware generation in employment. [2] According to an Ernst & Young report on the rise of young managers in the workplace, this generation were not considered to be team players and have an attitude of entitlement. [11] This was also noted by Jean Twenge in her book Generation me. In terms of management, they are considered inclusive leaders and enjoy diversification and input when making decisions. [15]

Generation Z

The future generation of workers, according to Amy Glass, are referred to as Generation Z. Generation Z are those born approximately between 1997 and 2012 [3] and are even more reliant on new technology and in particular communication technologies. [16] [17]

‘The Next Generation of Workers’ written by Lily Guthrie of The Ken Blanchard Companies, Office of the Future, highlights the importance of awareness and understanding of the attitudes of the intergenerational workforce. Companies will need to be collaborative, innovative and agile in their operations and management. [10] There are many reports on the management of a cohort of generations in the workplace, including one from the psychology foundation of Canada which provides effective strategies, training, and education that they believe will bridge the differences between the generations. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation X</span> Cohort born between c. 1965 and 1980

Generation X is the demographic cohort following the Baby Boomers and preceding Millennials. Researchers and popular media often use the mid-1960s as its starting birth years and the late 1970s as its ending birth years, with the generation being generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980. By this definition and U.S. Census data, there are 65.2 million Gen Xers in the United States as of 2019. Most of Generation X are the children of the Silent Generation and early Baby Boomers; Xers are also often the parents of Millennials and Generation Z.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby boomers</span> Cohort born from 1946 to 1964

Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the demographic cohort following the Silent Generation and preceding Generation X. The generation is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom. The dates, the demographic context, and the cultural identifiers may vary by country. Most baby boomers are the children of either the Greatest Generation or the Silent Generation, and are often parents of Gen Xers and Millennials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation</span> All of the people born and living at about the same time period, regarded collectively

A generation is all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It also is "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children." In kinship, generation is a structural term, designating the parent–child relationship. In biology, generation also means biogenesis, reproduction, and procreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennials</span> Generational cohort born 1981 to 1996

Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as ending birth years, with the generation typically being defined as people born from 1981 to 1996. Most Millennials are the children of Baby Boomers and older Generation X. In turn Millennials are often the parents of Generation Alpha.

A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions and outlooks between one generation and another. These differences may relate to beliefs, politics, language, work, demographics and values. The differences between generations can cause misunderstandings, but it is possible for generations to overcome their differences and maintain functional relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation Jones</span> Social cohort spanning the late Baby Boomer Generation and the early Generation X

Generation Jones is the social cohort worldwide of the latter half of the baby boomer generation to the first year of Generation X. The term Generation Jones was first coined by the American cultural commentator Jonathan Pontell, who identified the cohort as those born from 1954 to 1965 in the U.S., who were children during Watergate, the oil crisis, and stagflation rather than during the 1950s, but slightly before Gen X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theory X and Theory Y</span> Theories of human motivation

Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human work motivation and management. They were created by Douglas McGregor while he was working at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the 1950s, and developed further in the 1960s. McGregor's work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of Abraham Maslow, who created the hierarchy of needs. The two theories proposed by McGregor describe contrasting models of workforce motivation applied by managers in human resource management, organizational behavior, organizational communication and organizational development. Theory X explains the importance of heightened supervision, external rewards, and penalties, while Theory Y highlights the motivating role of job satisfaction and encourages workers to approach tasks without direct supervision. Management use of Theory X and Theory Y can affect employee motivation and productivity in different ways, and managers may choose to implement strategies from both theories into their practices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helicopter parent</span> Term for a parent who closely manages their childs life

A helicopter parent is a term for a parent who is overattentive and overly fearful of a child's experiences and problems, particularly outside the home and at educational institutions. Helicopter parents are so named because, like helicopters, they "hover overhead", overseeing every aspect of their child's life. A helicopter parent is also known to strictly supervise their children in all aspects of their lives, including in social interactions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation Z</span> Cohort born from the mid-to-late 1990s to early 2010s

Generation Z, colloquially known as Zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years. Most members of Generation Z are the children of Generation X or older Millennials.

Bruce L. Tulgan is an American writer specializing in management training and generational diversity in the workforce. His books include The Art of Being Indispensable at Work (2020), Not Everyone Gets a Trophy, The 27 Challenges Managers Face (2014), It's Okay to Be the Boss (2007), and Managing Generation X. He founded the management training firm RainmakerThinking, Inc. in 1993 and is a keynote speaker, seminar leader, and business consultant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xennials</span> Term for people born during Generation X/Millennial cusp years

Xennials are the micro-generation of people on the cusp of the Generation X and Millennial demographic cohorts.

A cusper is a person born near the end of one generation and the beginning of another. People born in these circumstances tend to have a mix of characteristics common to their adjacent generations, but do not closely resemble those born in the middle of their adjacent generations. Generational profiles are built based on people born in the middle of a generation rather than those on the tails of a generation. Generations may overlap by five to eight years. As such, many people identify with aspects of at least two generations. The precise birth years defining when generations start and end vary.

Sexuality in the United States varies by region and time period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Twenge</span> American psychologist (born 1971)

Jean Marie Twenge is an American psychologist researching generational differences, including work values, life goals, and speed of development. She is a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, author, consultant, and public speaker. She has examined generational differences in work attitudes, life goals, developmental speed, sexual behavior, and religious commitment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation Z in the United States</span> American generation born between the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2010s

Generation Z, colloquially known as Zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha.

Ellen Beeson Zentner is a managing director and the Chief US Economist at Morgan Stanley. Zentner previously worked as a Senior Economist for the Texas State government, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., and Nomura Securities International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zillennials</span> Individuals born after Millennial and before Generation Z cohorts

Zillennials are the demographic cohort on the cusp of the Millennial and Generation Z cohorts. Their adjacency between the two generations and limited age grade has led to their characterization as a "micro-generation." They are generally the children of Generation Jones and Generation X. Estimates of the U.S. population in this cohort range from 30 million to 48 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Resignation</span> 2021–2023 surge in job quits

The Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit and the Great Reshuffle, was a mainly American economic trend in which employees voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse, beginning in early 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most cited reasons for resigning included wage stagnation amid rising cost of living, limited opportunities for career advancement, hostile work environments, lack of benefits, inflexible remote-work policies, and long-lasting job dissatisfaction. Most likely to quit were workers in hospitality, healthcare, and education. In addition, many of the resigning workers were retiring seniors. Collectively, the Baby Boomers are one of the largest demographic cohorts in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aging of the United States</span> Ongoing demographic trend

In recent decades, the fertility rate of the United States has declined below replacement level, prompting projections of an aging population and workforce, as is already happening elsewhere in the developed world and some developing countries. The decline has been most noticeable since after the Great Recession of the late 2000s. Nevertheless, the rate of aging in the United States remains slower than that seen in many other countries, including some developing ones, giving the nation a significant competitive advantage. Unintentional pregnancies have become less common; in particular, teenage pregnancies have dropped to record lows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennials in the United States</span> Cohort born from 1981 to 1996

Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z.

References

  1. 1 2 Kinal, T; Hipponen, O (2013, April). Unleashing the future of work. http://unleashteam.com/wp-content/themes/unleash%20v2/pdf/Unleashing.pdf Retrieved October 21, 2013, from www.unleashteam.com
  2. 1 2 3 Adecco Group UK and Ireland. (n.d.). Managing the modern workforce. http://www.adeccogroupuk.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Adecco-Group-Workplace-Revolution.pdf Retrieved October 13, 2013, from www.Adeccouk.co.uk
  3. 1 2 3 Dimock, Michael. "Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 The Older Population: 2010. U.S. Census Bureau. November 2011. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-09.pdf Accessed October 14, 2013.
  5. ↑ "New Survey Suggests 64 Percent of U.S. Households May Lack Long-Term Interest in Cable TV Subscriptions". www.businesswire.com. 21 April 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Talent management Team UNJSPF. (n.d.). Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y (and Generation Z) Working together. http://www.un.org/staffdevelopment/pdf/Designing%20Recruitment,%20Selection%20&%20Talent%20Management%20Model%20tailored%20to%20meet%20UNJSPF%27s%20Business%20Development%20Needs.pdf Retrieved October 10, 2013, from Un.org:
  7. ↑ "'Baby boomers are very privileged human beings'". www.telegraph.co.uk. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  8. 1 2 Gratton, L. (2011). The Shift-The future of work is already here. London: Collins
  9. ↑ GenXegesis: essays on alternative youth (sub)culture By John McAllister Ulrich, Andrea L. Harris p. 5.
  10. 1 2 Ken Blanchard Companies. (2009). Next Generation of workers. http://www.kenblanchard.com/img/pub/Blanchard_Next_Generation_of_Workers.pdf Retrieved October 14, 2013, from kenblanchard.com
  11. 1 2 Ernst and Young. (n.d.). Younger managers rise in the ranks. http://www.ey.com/US/en/Issues/Talent-management/Talent-Survey-The-generational-management-shift Retrieved October 14, 2013, from www.EY.com:
  12. ↑ obamawhitehouse.archives.gov https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/millennials_report.pdf . Retrieved November 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[ title missing ]
  13. ↑ "Millennials Now Make up Largest Workforce Generation in US". www.titanarmor.com. 8 January 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  14. ↑ Heiberg, Dawn (2021-10-26). "Key statistics about Millennials in the workplace". Firstup. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  15. ↑ Twenge, Jean M (2007). Generations Me. Atria Books, New York
  16. ↑ "CMO by Adobe".
  17. ↑ Glass, A. (2007). Understanding generational differences for competitive success. Industrial and commercial training, Vol 39, p98-103.
  18. ↑ Psychology Foundation of Canada. (n.d.). Generations at work. http://psychologyfoundation.org/pdf/publications/GenerationsAtWork.pdf Retrieved October 21, 2013, from www.psychologyfoundation.org
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