Analyzing survey results about Generation Z's job search andcareer goals, challenges, and preferences, report advises theup-and-coming workforce and today's employers on how to understandone 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, employersneed to understand how to recruit, retain, engage, and motivatethis group. Likewise, Gen Z candidates must understand employers'expectations and how to best market themselves to find the rightjobs. - Steve Flook, President &CEO, iHire
Analyzing the results of a survey of 1,093 Gen Zers and 252employers in the U.S., iHire's report points to a disconnectbetween this up-and-coming segment of the workforce and today'semployers, offering advice for the two sides to better understandone another.
The following are some of the key survey findings and themesdetailed in the report:
- Stereotypes surround the Gen Z workforce.
34.4% of Gen Z respondents believe negative stereotypes willadversely impact their job searches and career advancement in thecoming year, as employers expressed concerns with this generation'sentitled mentality, lack of commitment, and poor work ethic.
However, not all stereotypes were negative – employers alsodescribed 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 theiremployer'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 theirsoft skills to make themselves more marketable.
58.3% of employers said Gen Z job seekers need to improve theirinterviewing skills, and 57.5% said they need to communicate betterwith hiring managers and recruiters. While Gen Z respondents agreedwith employers in some instances (30.4% of candidates said theystruggled with interviewing), in other cases, Gen Z'sself-assessments differed from employers' observations.
For example, 52.8% of employers said Gen Z needs to improvetheir office/workplace etiquette skills, yet 73.7% of Gen Zersrated their own office/workplace etiquette skills "excellent" or"good." Similarly, 48.4% of employers said Gen Z needs to enhancetheir resume writing skills while 68.4% of Gen Zers were confidentthat their resumes would help them find a job or advance theircareers.
- Gen Z is concerned about artificial intelligence (AI) replacingtheir roles but hesitates to use AI to assist in their jobsearches.
33.2% of Gen Zers fear AI replacing their job or making theirrole less significant in the coming year. But many Gen Zers arelagging when it comes to embracing generative AI tools to help themin their job search or career journey. For example, 42.7% of GenZers said they never use generative AI tools to assist them intheir job search (such as writing a resume or cover letter withChatGPT).
- Most Gen Zers have a "dream job" and want that role to providea positive work environment, fair pay, flexibility, andautonomy.
Contradicting the notion that they are not committed to theircareers, 69.3% of Gen Zers have a dream job they hope to attain inthe next 10 years. And, respondents said it is extremely or veryimportant for their ideal job to provide a positive workenvironment (82.4%), a fair and competitive salary (82.2%), and theflexibility to achieve a work/life balance (81.3%). Further, 36.7%want to work autonomously and with minimal supervision, while only22.0% 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 thetime – 55.8% desired an entirely in-person work environment, and26.6% wanted a hybrid (mix of in-person and remote) setup. Only17.6% wanted a completely remote job.
- Gen Z job seekers struggle to find jobs they qualify for andbelieve employers have unrealistic expectations.
38.6% of respondents said finding jobs for which they arequalified or have the required experience is one of their top jobsearch challenges. Moreover, 25.6% were frustrated by employers'overly specific or unrealistic requirements, thus creating highbarriers to entry-level employment opportunities.
"Generation Z possesses unique perspectives and values shaped bygrowing up in the digital age and experiencing the pandemic duringtheir formative years," said SteveFlook, iHire's President and CEO. "As Gen Z permeates theworkforce, employers need to understand how to recruit, retain,engage, and motivate this group. Likewise, Gen Z candidates mustunderstand employers' expectations and how to best marketthemselves to find the right jobs. Our report aims to provideinsights to both sides to move the employment market toward abrighter future."
Access "Gen Z in the Workforce: Decoding a New Generation of JobSeekers" here: http://www.iHire.com/GenZ.
Research Methodology
iHire surveyed a Qualtrics market research panel comprising 1,093people between the ages of 18 and 27 in the U.S. iHire also polled252 U.S. employers across 57 industries from its customer database.Surveys were fielded in March and April2024, and data was collected through the Qualtrics XMplatform. All percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth.
About iHire
iHire is a leading career-oriented platform that powers a family of57 industry-focused talent networks, including WorkInSports,iHireVeterinary, iHireDental, iHireConstruction, and iHireChefs.For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matchingtechnology with our expertise in the talent acquisition space toconnect job seekers with employers in their desired sector. With anindustry-specific, candidate-centric, and data-driven approach torecruitment, iHire helps candidates find meaningful work andemployers find unique, high-quality talent – faster, easier, andmore effectively than a general job board. Visithttp://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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