Generation Z – What To Know About This New Gen
Generation Z is known by many names: Post-Millennials, the iGeneration, Gen Tech, Gen Wii, Net Gen, Digital Natives, and Plurals. This generation, born between 1995 and 2010, are accustomed to a life with the Internet and are generally comfortable with technology and with interacting on social media. Here are some important details about what this generation has to offer.
On Communication & Social Media
For their entire lives, all kinds of information have been readily available for Generation Z to learn and use. Nearly 92% of Gen Z has an online account of some sort, and many Gen Z social media users are naturals at using Snapchat, Instagram, and other platforms, being more capable at establishing themselves as influencers with huge followings. According to Nicholas Cole, founder of Digital Press, there are even Fortune 500 companies that can’t figure out how to do this, and at the exact same time, there are teenagers all over the world doing this every day as if it’s second nature.
On Education
Melissa Lavigne-Delville, founder of the trends and research firm Culture Co-op, which specializes in generational attitudes, says that Generation Z does not align with the old systems of education. According to a survey by her firm, 78% of Gen Z-ers say getting a four-year degree is not a wise investment. They look forward to more progressive forms of education, with hundreds of alternative programs, apprenticeships, and boot camps available to offer a different path.
On Job Markets & Careers
For the Generation Z workforce, professional development and promotional opportunities are some of the key triggers behind their company loyalty and success for the following reasons:
- New research from culture, compensation and career monitoring site Comparably analyzed the job market patterns of the Gen Z workforce and found that tech jobs are in high demand and cater to Gen Z especially, as they are heavily influenced by the overall values of modern companies.
- Global law firm Nixon Peabody reveals through recent studies that Gen Z-ers are more likely to switch jobs at the highest rate compared to other generations, usually viewing their first job as a stepping stone to their “dream job.”
- Gen Z workers are also more likely to share their salary information and difficulties. A Comparably research study shows that Gen Z workers in senior positions are paid an average of $115,000 annually, with half of Gen Z participants believing they’re not fairly compensated.
On Work Lifestyles
In the age of startups and crowdsourcing. Generation Z-ers are more likely to be entrepreneurial and seek outlets to explore their creativity and ideas. Culture Co-op research group revealed that nearly 60% of Gen Z-ers, ages 13 to 22, say they are doing some form of freelancing, and are doing less traditional work-for-pay than previous generations. Employers can encourage these mindsets within the confines of a corporate structure by allowing them to have input from the start, such as being a proactive member in task committees for the company.
On Global Economy & Diversity
Research from the IBM Institute for Business Value shows that technological innovations, challenging economic conditions, and complicated global politics have strongly influenced Generation Z-ers buying habits and expectations in a market. Their research shows that members of Gen Z carry major economic power in family purchasing decisions.
Gen Z will also be the most diverse generation to date. Pranam Lipinski, co-founder and CEO of campus recruiting startup Door of Clubs states in a recent Door of Clubs survey, that the primary cause Gen Z cares about in the workplace was in fact – equality. Companies will need to embrace the changing diversity within their workforce and adhere to members of Gen Z that do not identify themselves in clearly defined categories, but rather a fluid sense of themselves. This results in businesses promoting a more open and thoughtful workplace.
