Gen Z, our children. From a Gen X perspective

Working young people (Gen Z) are most concerned about climate change, environmental damage and housing shortages. However, they do little about this in the workplace. There, it is still about me, according to new research. And that focus on me is becoming increasingly stronger.

About Gen Z

Generation Z, commonly defined as those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, represents the first generation to grow up with widespread access to digital technology and the internet. They are often referred to as "digital natives" because of their early and constant exposure to smartphones, social media, and other technological advancements.

Our children in Generation Z are characterized by their tech-savviness, adaptability, and openness to diversity and change. They tend to be highly connected, relying on technology for communication, education, and entertainment. Social media plays a significant role in shaping their worldviews, identities, and social interactions.

Gen Z is also noted for being more socially conscious and values-driven. They are more likely to engage in activism, care about environmental sustainability, and advocate for inclusivity and equality. Additionally, this generation faces unique challenges, such as dealing with the mental health impacts of social media and navigating an uncertain future marked by rapid technological advancements, climate change, and global economic shifts.

Priorities

The most important work needs: fun, development and making an impact. The strong increase in the importance of mental well-being and financial security is striking. Generation Z defines success as feeling mentally well, followed by being financially independent and having time to do fun things. Research shows that Generation Z in particular is dealing with ‘a lot of crises’. The banks, Covid, energy, inflation, nitrogen, the climate, housing shortages and now two major wars.

Gen Z wants a permanent contract

Generation Z has parents who have become self-employed. They too have had a tough time with all those crises. So it is a generation that has learned to stand on their own two feet. They are really looking for ways to provide for their own future.

They prefer to look to employers for that. Entrepreneurship or the status of self-employed person, there is little interest in that. A permanent contract for an indefinite period stands out head and shoulders above the rest among young people: 94 percent want to connect with an employer in that way.

Gen Z is mainly looking for security. They are looking for that in different elements of their work. When we ask about the most important employment condition, salary is immediately at the top. That is also what you hear a lot from employers: they all want a high salary.

Urge for development

It is not that they necessarily want big dollars now. They act out of a certain cramp or fear, because they are looking for security for the future. That is why pension or education and development are also important to them.

They have an enormous urge for development. Salary, pension, development, those are the straws with which they get the idea that they will be fine in the future. They want to get the feeling that in an uncertain world in the future, things will be fine for them.

Those who are so concerned with the future can contribute to solving all kinds of social problems through their work. That intention is also there, the research shows, but in daily practice it is a different story. The ambitions often do not go beyond their own personal bubble.

Myself first

This is something that was very striking in the research. They are standing at the front door of employers shouting: what do you all offer in terms of salary, development, pension? But when you look at what they are trying to achieve for themselves and the world in their daily work, they don't get around to it.

Climate stress is most present in Generation Z. They find all that important, but in their final job they are not at all concerned with it. They mainly want to have fun at work and develop themselves. Then it suddenly becomes about me, instead of me in the context of an uncertain world.

This is also confirmed in, among other things, changing jobs. Three percent change to make a greater contribution to society. Zero percent do so because they want to work for a company that puts sustainability first. When asked about the needs for a job, it is about having fun in your own work and nice colleagues.

Meaningful work less important

Meaningful work no longer gives them the necessary energy. In the 2018 survey, that was still in first place, today it is in fifth place. What young professionals now get the most energy from is nice colleagues, a nice team, a nice working atmosphere, nice projects and clients.

So it's increasingly about me, the study concludes. In a world that is becoming increasingly global, young people are increasingly looking at their own (small) world of experience. What can employers learn from this?

Offer customization, the study states. Almost everything in their lives comes to them through a personal, tailored approach. Gen Z knows nothing else. Focus on various factors that offer this generation a sense of security and safety.

Harness the power of Generation Z

This can be done with a coaching style of leadership, but also with primary and secondary employment conditions that respond to this. Also support them in their concerns and ideals. The climate is a clear example of this. Employers must meet more and more requirements in the area of sustainability. But young people do not get around to this in the workplace.

Use them to achieve the transition in your organization to sustainability. It is smart to work together much more in this. Put them in the project group, that gives an enormous acceleration, fresh energy, and you can use that well. Make much more use of the power of the younger generation.

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