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The Emerging Generation

Gen Z Will Change the Working World. Are you Ready?

Jason Dorsey speaking at PMMI's Executive Leadership Conference in April.
Jason Dorsey speaking at PMMI's Executive Leadership Conference in April.

We are all aware of the perceived generational differences between the Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. The typical stereotypes come to mind—such as “Millennials don’t want to work.” Which is, of course, a false statement because, “right now, there are more Millennials in manufacturing than any other generation,” said generational researcher Jason Dorsey who returned as a speaker at PMMI’s Executive Leadership Conference in April.

Dorsey is the co-author of “Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business—and What to Do About it,” an authoritative guide to help employers recruit, market to, and leverage generational strengths of Gen Z. The insights in the book are based on extensive research of Dorsey’s company, The Center for Generational Kinetics, and provide the context for this critical time in business as Gen Z is already reshaping the world of business.

During his presentation, Dorsey outlined for the audience the trends that shape different generations, the things an employer needs in place to attract job applicants, and the nuances and importance of the emerging generation, Gen Z, which is the fastest growing generation in the workforce today.

Some things to note about this generation, according to Dorsey: It is the most diverse generation the world has ever had. They have the most trust in social media (because it’s all they’ve ever known). They care deeply about social causes. They are “savers” and worry about retirement matching because they don’t think they’ll have social security, and, as a result, they believe they will have to work a really long time. “And how does that change your approach to work? Would you show up early and stay late and work on weekends? No.”

Understanding these factors can help employers understand how to work with Gen Z. So what resonates most with Gen Z? Stability. “They need to know your company is stable,” Dorsey said.

Put all of this together and on paper, Gen Z behaviorally is a “throwback” generation—it resembles the Baby Boomers. And, as a result, manufacturers are seeing higher average tenure from Gen Z than when compared to newly hired Millennials. This is good news! But, first, you have to get them in the door.

A new kind of job applicant

The first thing companies need to understand is that they can’t fill a job if no one applies. Dorsey has pinpointed several things that a manufacturer can do to get a young adult to apply for—and, more importantly—complete, a job application.