As students get their A-level results and graduate from university this summer, a new tranche of young people will enter the workforce. So what do their prospective employers need to do to attract and accommodate the best and brightest ‘Generation Z’ talent?
These digital natives were born into a world rapidly transformed by technology and where mobile phones, the internet and social media were already a part of everyday life. As a result, they bring with them different expectations of how they want to work.
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To help businesses of all sizes get ready for the latest batch of Gen Z employees and to make sure they’re able to work most productively, we commissioned a study examining the attributes that matter most to post-millennials entering the workforce. In particular, five core attributes stood out:
What we learned is that while Gen Z cares about tech (as you’d expect) – 61% agreed the quality of devices available makes them more productive, compared with a UK average of 55% – they care even more about the team around them. Indeed, 74% said their team matters, compared with 60% of Baby-boomers. Gen Z also said the level of training provided is important to them: 63% said training makes them more productive on a daily basis, compared with an average of 56% amongst the wider workforce.
The study also suggests a number of practical things that UK employers can do:
As a new generation of digitally savvy young people enter the workforce, British businesses must be ready to adapt to their needs. This research highlights the importance of technology, but also the value of teams and training. With the UK’s productivity already in question, businesses should not be relying on a one-size-fits all model to support such a diverse workforce if they’re to boost productivity. And as Gen Z are the leaders of tomorrow and key to Britain’s future, it’s vital that businesses look at how to attract and retain this new pool of talent.
The five key attributes point towards a simple truth – making efforts to cater for the needs of the new generation of candidates entering the workforce can boost a business’ overall productivity. Indeed, it was the London School of Economics ‘Power of Productivity’ report, commissioned by Vodafone UK, which found that an organisation can unlock productivity by looking at three key levers: management practices, the use of technology and workforce flexibility. By focusing on these three areas, businesses will enable their new Gen Z employees to be happy and productive at work, now and in the future.
Tony Bailey, Head of Regional Business, Vodafone UK