Analyzing survey results about Generation Z's job search and
career goals, challenges, and preferences, report advises the
up-and-coming workforce and today's employers on how to understand
one another
FREDERICK, Md., May 21, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- iHire has published a new research report,
"Gen Z in the Workforce: Decoding a New Generation of Job Seekers,"
highlighting Generation Z's unique job search and career goals,
challenges, and preferences.
Gen Z permeates the workforce, employers
need to understand how to recruit, retain, engage, and motivate
this group. Likewise, Gen Z candidates must understand employers'
expectations and how to best market themselves to find the right
jobs. - Steve Flook, President &
CEO, iHire
Analyzing the results of a survey of 1,093 Gen Zers and 252
employers in the U.S., iHire's report points to a disconnect
between this up-and-coming segment of the workforce and today's
employers, offering advice for the two sides to better understand
one another.
The following are some of the key survey findings and themes
detailed in the report:
- Stereotypes surround the Gen Z workforce.
34.4% of Gen Z respondents believe negative stereotypes will
adversely impact their job searches and career advancement in the
coming year, as employers expressed concerns with this generation's
entitled mentality, lack of commitment, and poor work ethic.
However, not all stereotypes were negative – employers also
described Gen Z as "tech-savvy," "socially conscious," and
"diverse." The latter two descriptors reflect the fact that 70.3%
of Gen Zers said it was extremely or very important for their
employer's mission and values to align with their own, and 68.0%
said the same about their company's commitment to diversity,
equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- Employers advise an overly confident Gen Z to improve their
soft skills to make themselves more marketable.
58.3% of employers said Gen Z job seekers need to improve their
interviewing skills, and 57.5% said they need to communicate better
with hiring managers and recruiters. While Gen Z respondents agreed
with employers in some instances (30.4% of candidates said they
struggled with interviewing), in other cases, Gen Z's
self-assessments differed from employers' observations.
For example, 52.8% of employers said Gen Z needs to improve
their office/workplace etiquette skills, yet 73.7% of Gen Zers
rated their own office/workplace etiquette skills "excellent" or
"good." Similarly, 48.4% of employers said Gen Z needs to enhance
their resume writing skills while 68.4% of Gen Zers were confident
that their resumes would help them find a job or advance their
careers.
- Gen Z is concerned about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing
their roles but hesitates to use AI to assist in their job
searches.
33.2% of Gen Zers fear AI replacing their job or making their
role less significant in the coming year. But many Gen Zers are
lagging when it comes to embracing generative AI tools to help them
in their job search or career journey. For example, 42.7% of Gen
Zers said they never use generative AI tools to assist them in
their job search (such as writing a resume or cover letter with
ChatGPT).
- Most Gen Zers have a "dream job" and want that role to provide
a positive work environment, fair pay, flexibility, and
autonomy.
Contradicting the notion that they are not committed to their
careers, 69.3% of Gen Zers have a dream job they hope to attain in
the next 10 years. And, respondents said it is extremely or very
important for their ideal job to provide a positive work
environment (82.4%), a fair and competitive salary (82.2%), and the
flexibility to achieve a work/life balance (81.3%). Further, 36.7%
want to work autonomously and with minimal supervision, while only
22.0% said they want to manage other people in their dream job.
-
- Despite the perception that Gen Z is a group of tech-savvy
"Zoomers," most want to work in-person rather than remotely.
82.4% of respondents want to work in person at least some of the
time – 55.8% desired an entirely in-person work environment, and
26.6% wanted a hybrid (mix of in-person and remote) setup. Only
17.6% wanted a completely remote job.
- Gen Z job seekers struggle to find jobs they qualify for and
believe employers have unrealistic expectations.
38.6% of respondents said finding jobs for which they are
qualified or have the required experience is one of their top job
search challenges. Moreover, 25.6% were frustrated by employers'
overly specific or unrealistic requirements, thus creating high
barriers to entry-level employment opportunities.
"Generation Z possesses unique perspectives and values shaped by
growing up in the digital age and experiencing the pandemic during
their formative years," said Steve
Flook, iHire's President and CEO. "As Gen Z permeates the
workforce, employers need to understand how to recruit, retain,
engage, and motivate this group. Likewise, Gen Z candidates must
understand employers' expectations and how to best market
themselves to find the right jobs. Our report aims to provide
insights to both sides to move the employment market toward a
brighter future."
Access "Gen Z in the Workforce: Decoding a New Generation of Job
Seekers" here: http://www.iHire.com/GenZ.
Research Methodology
iHire surveyed a Qualtrics market research panel comprising 1,093
people between the ages of 18 and 27 in the U.S. iHire also polled
252 U.S. employers across 57 industries from its customer database.
Surveys were fielded in March and April
2024, and data was collected through the Qualtrics XM
platform. All percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth.
About iHire
iHire is a leading career-oriented platform that powers a family of
57 industry-focused talent networks, including WorkInSports,
iHireVeterinary, iHireDental, iHireConstruction, and iHireChefs.
For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matching
technology with our expertise in the talent acquisition space to
connect job seekers with employers in their desired sector. With an
industry-specific, candidate-centric, and data-driven approach to
recruitment, iHire helps candidates find meaningful work and
employers find unique, high-quality talent – faster, easier, and
more effectively than a general job board. Visit
http://www.iHire.com for more information.
Media Contact
Kristina Kelly, iHire,
8777984854, kristina.kelly@ihire.com, https://www.iHire.com
Kristina Kelly, iHire,
+18777984854, kristina.kelly@ihire.com
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SOURCE iHire