Demystifying the Millennial Worker: An Overview of Current Working Generations
Demystifying the Millennial Worker: An Overview of Current Working Generations Let’s start off breaking down the 3 generations that currently make up the American workforce. They are: - Baby Boomers (age 52 to 72) - Gen X (age 32 to 52) - Gen Y / Millennials (age 13 to 32) To better understand your employees as a whole, you have to put them into context. How are Millennials different from Baby Boomers? What do they expect from their jobs that Gen X-ers don’t? Regardless of their reputation of being the “entitled” generation, Millennials will soon be running America’s businesses and become our primary buyers; it’s worth paying attention to how they are revolutionizing the workplace. In fact dare we say – Millennials just might end up being the most hard-working generation of all. So here’s the 411 on today’s working generations.
1. Baby Boomers Baby Boomers are generally between the ages of 52 and 72. They make up 31% of the workplace today and are slowly beginning to exit the workforce. Defining traits of Baby Boomers are: - Optimistic - Hard-Working - Consensus-Oriented - Focused on Long-Term Goals Baby boomers want to build a big tent with those who share similar values and beliefs with them. They are focused on long-term goals, which explains most of our current legacy planning frameworks. They tend to focus on 1 to 3 year goals (to put this in perspective, the average time an individual stays at a company today is 4.4 years). Baby Boomers are team players, whose most important corporate “perks” are benefits such as healthcare and retirement.
Demystifying the Millennial Worker: An Overview of Current Working Generations
2. Gen X Gen X-ers are between the ages of 32 and 52. They make up 33% of the workplace today. Defining Traits of Gen X-ers are: - Skeptical but Pragmatic - Work-Life Balance - Competence-Oriented - Titles Unimportant Gen X-ers possess less raw optimism than Baby Boomers and tend to be more pragmatic. Rather than prioritize the ability to form strong consensus, they look to the person with the great skillset to lead. As a result, they are known to have great managerial skills and see job titles as less important. In terms of perks, Gen X-ers value flexible work hours as part of their commitment to achieving work-life balance.
3. Gen Y / Millennials Millennials are between the ages of 13 and 32. They currently make up 24% of the workforce and that percentage is growing. Defining Traits of Millennials are: - Entrepreneurial - No Work-Life Distinction - TeamWork-Oriented - Committed to Making a Difference Millennials are the most tech-savvy generation. They question the status quo and continually strive to make a difference. One common misconception is that Millennials look to befriend coworkers. In reality, Millennials see no work-life distinction and wonder why people even talk about a difference between work and one’s personal life in the first place. While the average time an employee stays with one company is 4.4 years, Millennials average about half that time. They prioritize professional growth as an essential part of working at a company. As a result of a lack of work-life distinction, Millennials expect their employers to support their lifestyles both inside and outside of the office; from encouraging healthy living to sponsoring pet care.
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