Statistics Exposing What Generation Z Wants from the Workplace

In the United States, 14 is the minimum age required to join LinkedIn. LinkedIn recently lowered their minimum age to create an account likely due to the high ambition of Generation Z (the post-Millennial generation). Fifty-five percent of Generation Z feel pressure to gain professional experience in high school and 75 percent of Generation Z said they were more worried about getting a job and starting a career than they were about finding a soul mate.

 

 

Gain a better understanding of what Generation Z wants in a workplace, and gain a leg-up on your competition.

Statistics Exposing What Generation Z Wants from the Workplace

Workplace Selection

• Generation Z’s top three "must haves" for their first job are health insurance (70 percent), a competitive salary (63 percent) and a boss they respect (61 percent).
• 41 percent of Generation Z described midsize organizations as the ideal work environment, followed by large organizations (38 percent) and only 14 percent cited start-ups.
• 91 percent of Generation Z said technological sophistication would impact their interest in working at a company.
• 93 percent of Generation Z said that a company’s impact on society affects their decision to work there.
• Only five percent of Generation Z said they were motivated by a company's reputation.
• 77 percent of Generation Z said that a company’s level of diversity affects their decision to work there.
• One-fourth of Generation Z want theie companies to incorporate virtaul reality into the workplace. 

Workplace Performance

• 84 percent of Generation Z believes that they have the skills necessary to be successful in a professional environment.
• 58 percent of Generation Z are open to working nights and weekends for a better salary, compared to 41 percent across all working generations.
• 77 percent of Generation Z believe they will need to work harder compared to those in past generations to have a satisfying and fulfilling professional life.
• Generation Z believes that technology allows them to be more productive (57 percent) and mobile (45 percent).
• 67 percent of Generation Z is willing to relocate for a good job.
• 69 percent of Generation Z would rather have their own workspace than share it with someone else. Only 8 percent wanted to share a workspace or have an open office concept.
  

 

Workplace Management

• 38 percent of Generation Z cited “honesty/integrity” as the top quality sought in a boss, followed by "mentoring ability” (21 percent).
• 65 percent of Generation Z is already comfortable being monitored in some fashion or another at work.
• 70 percent of Generation Z would rather share personal information with their pet than with their boss.
• 67 percent of Generation Z is comfortable with having their manager check in with them but only for five minutes or less.
• 20 percent of Generation Z said they would rather go to the dentist than have their boss check in on them frequently.
• 94 percent of Generation Z said they trust their supervisor’s input more than Yahoo! Answers.
• 32 percent of Generation Z believe they will be managing employees in a corporate environment within the next five years.

 

Workplace Career

• Generation Z’s top motivators at work are money/pay (70 percent), the ability to pursue their passion (46 percent) and the challenges/excitement of the job (39 percent).
• 75 percent of Generation Z want their work to have meaning (vs 70 percent of Millennials).
• 56 percent of Generation Z would rather write their own job description than be given a generic one.
• 76 percent of Generation Z are willing to start at the bottom.
• 64 percent of Generation Z cited “opportunity for career growth” as a top career priority. Only 3 percent cited an impressive job title as a priority.
• 76 percent of Generation Z see themselves as the owners of their careers, driving their own professional advancement.
• 61 percent of Generation Z said they would stay at a company for more than ten years and of the 61 percent, 31 percent said they would be willing to stay more than twenty years.
• 62 percent of Generation Z would rather customize their own career plan than have the organization lay one out for them.
• Balancing work and personal obligations was the top future career concern for Generation Z (28 percent), followed by making enough money (26 percent) and finding a stable job (23 percent).

 

Workplace Communication & Collaboration

• 45 percent of Generation Z cited potential challenges working with baby boomers, compared to 17 percent who anticipate difficulties with Generation X and five percent with Millennials.
• 39 percent of Generation Z see smartphones as essential and 37 percent rely on laptops, compared to 25 percent and 30 percent across all working generations, respectively.
• 84 percent of Generation Z prefer communicating face-to-face with a boss and 78 percent prefer communicating face-to-face with a peer.
• 85 percent of Generation Z reported that straightforward, constructive communication is most important.
• 42 percent of Generation Z saying they would rather finish a project on their own and get special recognition than finish the project with a group and everyone receives credit.
• 72 percent of Generation Z said they are competitive with people doing the same job.
• 71 percent of Generation Z said they believe the phrase “if you want it done right, then do it yourself.

 

Workplace Training

• 75 percent of Generation Z would be interested in a situation in which they could have multiple roles within one place of employment.
• One in ten of Generation Z claim they would rather read the full iTunes terms and conditions than attend formal workplace training.
• 56 percent of Generation Z thinks onboarding should take a day or less.
• 73 percent of Generation Z would like to be taught one-on-one.

Consider Ryan Jenkins to be your next Millennial or Generation Z keynote speaker by clicking here...