Generation Z in the Workforce
Have you ever wondered who gives names to children born in a certain period? For instance, Millennials (born between the 1980s -to mid-1990s) and now that we are in generation Z, where do these names originate? No one knows that popular people make up these names and the majority of the world uses it and the name sticks ( it becomes tricky to trace the origin of the name).
What is Generation Z
Gen Z as they are popularly known as are cohorts of children born after the baby boomers.
Members of this generation were born between 1995 to early 2000s, however, the close of the birth years of this generation is yet to be.
These are children born into the world of technology in a nutshell. They operate devices with ease, with the internet is their playground.
Gen zs is apt all very familiar with social media platforms, unlike the older generations where ⅓ people were in social media.
Generation Z Facts
1. The purchasing power of gen z’s is higher than that of their predecessors, with a buying power reaching billions annually.
Equally, they form a huge market for products considered cool, unlike the Millenials who were more interested in functionality than in the outward appearance.
The increase is due to the introduction of jobs which high school students can do and the increase in allowances given to them.
2. Most diverse generation. Generation Z is 47% more tolerant of people of other races, religions, and cultures than the Millenials who are at 19%.
These can be widely linked to a common denominator–the internet–which makes the world a village for them. Another reason is 11% of the population in this generation has an immigrant parent.
3. The most stressed-out generation we have ever had. In the United States, 47% have clinically diagnosed depression with the other 33% had shown signs of mild depression at some point in their lives. With 79% displaying some symptoms of stress, more so when away from their electronic devices.
What are they stressing about, other than their devices? The future, the unknown, their careers, and general life stresses these peeps.
4. 55% of gen z feel they are under pressure from guardians/parents to gain professional skills while in high school.
This fact leads to nearly 50% of the students to register for volunteering opportunities to gain these skills and experience. However,17% feel the urgent need to become entrepreneurial and hire their age mates.
5. The concentration span of this generation is less than 12 seconds. At times its referred to as multitasking.
They are known to do several tasks simultaneously, and the opening and closing of social media apps are very common in between the task. There is thus a very thin line when concentration span and multitasking are discussed and the matter is still in debate.
6. Previous generations were not as keen as this generation is when it comes to being heard and seen, with 75% having some form of digital presence on social networking platforms.
In the same measure, the generation has an increased level of self-esteem compared to the Millenials in terms of self-identification, they want to know who they are and to decide their life paths on their own instead of letting other people define their paths in life for them.
Likewise, 80% of these post Millenials feel high that they have more drive in life generally than their peers of the same age.
7. Gen z’s strongly feel that the financial obligations of a family should be shared equally between the parents.
While the generations before them who were of the idea that the male in the house was by default tasked with that role. This generation is for shared house chores and role-taking when it comes to the children.
Generation Z joins the Workforce
The oldest gen z’s should be about 23 years of age and thus ready to be employed. Nonetheless is a rather complicated aspect to look into in that in such a setting the gen z’s are expected to work near millennials with whom they have several varying opinions and preferences.
For one, Millennials are more into working together as a team such that the success of a task to teamwork.
These post-millennials are into cellular office layout where they get to stay away from their colleagues and be alone. And get all the praises of success individually. They are keen on proving themselves adequate and enough.
Generation z characteristics might intrigue you in that 60% want to make an impact in the world and not just work for money.
Which is encouraging as it equally is a generation that cares deeply about the planet, matters climate change and global warming are in the hearts of 79% of gen z is worried about man’s impact on the planet.
Gen z prefer their workplaces incorporated with social media, no dress code and virtual reality in terms of what they see and hear with 41%, 29%, and 27% respectively.
Other adjustments work establishments have to put into place when this generation joins their workforce would be more face to face communication as opposed to the use of emails, fax, and even skype. See this generation feels communication better done at a personalized level.
A good percent of gen z share opinions with Millenials, pew research, when matters politics and governance are spoken of. Though the current generation doesn’t actively participate in political forums they have strong views on current affairs.
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Digital Native Advantage
Digital natives are people born into the gen z era. Digital native advantage is now the pros of being born in those times.
The term came from an article done by one Marc Prensky in his article“On The Horizon” in 2001 where he published his views on why he felt teaching the current generation is a hard nut to crack especially for teachers.
Marc states clearly that the problem is in the teaching techniques.
Where the teachers are teaching using the old archaic language while the students are speaking a new digitized language, he called for a change in the teaching techniques and urged the teachers to adopt the new language so they can be at per with their students and hence increase the input and the output of education in the long run.
The digital natives have been used as an advantage by businesses who maximize their presence online where the gen zs are.
Online platforms have been a lucrative business over the last 20 years in all aspects of the word.
Talk about online shops, schools, and everything has been put on the internet with up to 80% of these companies making profits from them.
The gen z has made it very easy for advertising agencies to increase their visibility, with 34% of companies advertising through social media.
Once an ad has a celebrity or an athlete 27% of the time, Gen Z consumers will respond to it.
SUMMARY
This advantage has also been instrumental in scaling financially and career-wise for the gen z’s themselves.
With a rising number in the new rich kids on the block, from tech gurus, Iddris Sanduto media personalities who have a net worth of up to millions all thanks to media.
