Ready to navigate a four-generation workforce?

The workplace is continuing to evolve, and in part, that’s due to Gen Z’s entrance into the workplace.

It’s critical for today’s employers to understand the nuances between the generations in their workforce. Employers don’t want to alienate older workers and risk losing their experience and institutional knowledge, but they also need to be sure they’re creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for recent graduates.

Feeling valued and understood is important for retaining great talent. Learn more about the values and outlooks for each generation in today’s workplaces.

Generation Z

• Born between 1997–2012
• Never known life without the internet
• 73% feel more optimistic about their careers in 2023 than a year ago, the highest of any generation
• Nearly 1 in 4 younger workers are considering a job change in the next 6 months
• Top stressor for Gen Z: unrealistic expectations from their boss
• Will make up 27% of the workforce by 2025
• Could change jobs up to 10 times between 18–34 years old
• Nearly half say personal ethics have impacted their career choices
• Will make up more of the US workforce than Baby Boomers starting in 2024

Millennials

• Born between 1981–1996
• Considered the original job hoppers
• Over half of millennials feel like the job market is worse than a year ago
• Open to both fully remote and hybrid work environments
• Top stressor: Excessive workload and unrealistic expectations from their boss
• On average, 25–34 year olds say they’ve spent just under 3 years with their current employers, while 35–44 year olds say they’ve been with their company for 5 years
• Half of millennials have a side hustle, the most of any age group
• 84% say they’re feeling burned out

Generation X

• Born between 1965–1980
• Currently the “sandwich generation,” taking care of both children and parents
• 31% say they’re more optimistic about their careers in 2023 than a year ago
• 57% Gen X workers say they’re trying to change jobs in the 12 months
• 2/3 say their ideal work arrangement is entirely remote
• 2.6% Gen X workers plan to take an extended break after a layoff, compared to 9% of Gen Z and 4.5% of Millennials
• Struggling the most with credit card debt, compared to other generations
• In 2018, Gen X already represented 51% of leadership roles globally

Baby Boomers

Born between 1946-1964 and still very active in the workforce

In 2017, Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that Baby Boomers would make up the majority of the workforce by 2024, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that

On average, 55–64 year olds say they’ve spent about a 9.5 years with their current employers

More than 2/5 baby boomers are near retirement with no savings

More than 40% workers over 65 say they’ll still be working for 5+ years

50.3% older workers hold physically demanding jobs

20% of retirees say that they’ve been asked to return to work by their old employers

1 in 6 reporting being “passed over” for a job in the last two years because of ageism

Let’s work together

Each generation has different values, expectations, and points of view – and critically, they’re facing vastly different challenges.

Managers and employers sometimes struggle to create a holistic recruiting and retention plan that addresses so many diverse needs and circumstances. That’s how partnering with Adecco can help.

We have decades of experience in staffing solutions, and we leverage innovative, proprietary tools and technologies to identify candidate populations and stay on the forefront of workforce trends. We know how to navigate large and small workplaces to meet workers’ needs.

Reach out to us today and let’s get to work.