Here's what you need to know about next generation hiring

Hello and welcome back to the first edition of #CuttheBS since December 2023! It’s a new year and, in many ways, a new labor force: According to Glassdoor , in early 2024 Gen Z will make up a larger portion of the US workforce than baby boomers for the first time ever.?

Why should you care? ??

Well, economists predict that this will lead to some major changes since Gen Z has different priorities and expectations around work than their boomer predecessors.

They value social impact and upward mobility, tend to favor flat, non-hierarchical organizations, and are more likely than other generations to want to be vocal about politics and social issues at work.

Where boomers might have prioritized job security, work-life balance and flexibility are more important to Gen Z – who are not afraid to job-hop if unhappy.

73% of Gen Zers are willing to quit their jobs if their managers don’t provide learning and development opportunities and regular feedback.

Although millennials still make up the majority of the workforce, 2024 is the year to start paying attention to Gen Z’s hiring needs .?

So, what do they want? Of course, no generation is a monolith – but we’ve done the research and collated 3 sure-fire ways to optimize Gen Z recruitment without bias or stress. ??

1 - Diversity, diversity, diversity ??

Gen Z is more racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations, and so diversity is important to them.

Beyond how they identify themselves, they're more eager for societal change and progress when it comes to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (and who can blame them? It’s 2024 and we still have a gender employment gap! ).

In 2023, 85% of employers told TestGorilla that their organization had diversity objectives, so we seem to be on the right track here.

But whether it’s a newsflash or just a reminder for you, heed these words – demonstrable commitments to DE&I are crucial to attracting Gen Z talent.

2 - Bin your outdated hiring tools ??

Gen Z are a generation of digital natives. This means that ancient and outdated hiring tools (yes, we're talking about resumes and degree requirements) simply won’t fly.

Not only are these tools outdated and unsuitable for Gen Z’s hyper-digitized, fast-paced world, they also play a role in perpetuating a lot of the injustice that Gen Z can’t stand.

They want to be hired for what they can do, not where they went to school.?

Employers who hire for skills over experience or education are better equipped to provide learning and development opportunities for their younger employees – and Gen Z really value this.

3 - Well-being comes first ??

51% of GenZ employees prioritize health and well-being over work. So, if you want to be an attractive workplace to Gen Z, you need to create a work environment that nurtures, rather than diminishes, your employees’ well-being.

A few ways to do this:?

• Create psychological safety
• Promote flexible working policies
• Protect employees from burnout

But first and foremost, ask your employees, what wellness means to them.

New research shows that workers using benefits like mindfulness classes, digital apps for fitness and nutrition, coaching, or financial well-being felt no difference in their own health and well-being.?

To attract Gen Z talent, demonstrate that your commitment to wellbeing goes beyond an app subscription (chances are, they’ll see right through that). ??

GenZ are bringing the change – can you keep up? ??

More diversity, less outdated hiring tools, and wellness first at work? Let’s be real – beyond being ways to attract Gen Z talent, these are all ways to change workplaces for the better in general.

There’s still a lot of BS in the world of work. Gen Z seem to be a generation that’s committed to change – the least employers can do is take a leaf out of their book and change up how they hire.

?? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.