Many companies have laid off Generation Z employees just months after hiring them, and many business owners have said they are hesitant to hire recent college graduates due to concerns about his work ethicYour job readiness, communication skills and willingness to work may be declining, according to a new survey.
According to a survey conducted by Intelligent.com, six out of ten employers said they have laid off recent college graduates this year, while one in seven employers said they plan to avoid hiring new graduates next year.
Nearly 1,000 business leaders participated in the Intelligent.com survey, the results of which are being released for the first time. Reported by Newsweek.
“Many recent college graduates may find it difficult to enter the workforce for the first time, as it may be very different from the process they were used to throughout their education journey,” Huy Nguyen, Intelligent's chief education and career development consultant, said in the report.
Nguyen said business owners are reluctant to hire people born at the turn of the century, as they “are often unprepared for the less structured environment, the cultural dynamics of the workplace, and the expectation of autonomous work.”
“While they may have some theoretical knowledge gained from college, they often lack the practical, real-world experience and skills needed to succeed in a work environment,” Nguyen said.
Unlike their older counterparts, Generation Z suffers from public perception They are consistently limited by their short attention spans, procrastination, and emphasis on a strong work-life balance – A byproduct of having grown up in the digital world.
Younger workers are seen as more likely to be “aroused” and inspired by political and social campaigns driven by social media, which can disrupt workflow and cause problems for their bosses – especially in light of the national upheaval seen in recent years.
75% of companies surveyed reported that some or all of their recent college graduates were unsatisfactory.
The survey found that half of employers said Generation Z employees are most likely to lack motivation, while 39% said they lack communication skills.
Nearly half (46%) said Generation Z employees display a lack of professionalism at work.
Some experts accused the education system of “not preparing students for real-world work”.
“Education today emphasizes theory more than practice. Sure, learning Greek mythology is interesting, but unless you teach it, how will it prepare you to communicate effectively or demonstrate professionalism in a corporate meeting? It doesn't,” HR consultant Brian Driscoll told Newsweek.
Others said these generalizations about Generation Z are inaccurate.
“Most of these stereotypes get ingrained into the culture of each generation and are dismantled every 20 years or so,” Jessica Kriegel, chief strategy officer for workforce and labor at Culture Partners, told the Post.
Kriegel said millennials — those born in the early 1980s and who came of age just before the advent of the smartphone — were, until recently, considered “problem kids.”
Kriegel told the Post that Americans have now “made their collective decision to be the next target.”
Instead of focusing on the birth dates of prospective employees, business executives should dig deeper, according to Kriegel.
“What makes a truly great activist is not his or her generation but rather the set of values and beliefs we acquire from our experiences throughout our lives,” he said.
Scott Baradel, CEO of Dallas-based B2B digital marketing firm Idea Grove, told the Post that he has hired several Generation Z employees.
“I don’t understand the hesitancy toward Generation Z employees,” Baradelle said.
Baradelle said she isn’t at all put off by the notion that Generation Z is too demanding.
“Above all, their desire for flexibility and purpose makes them more engaged and motivated,” he said.
“They don’t just want a job — they want to make an impact, and that’s a huge benefit to any business.”
Baradelle said businesses that sideline Generation Z employees are “losing out on the next generation of talent that can move them forward.”
Carla Trotman, owner and CEO of Pennsylvania-based electronic contract manufacturing firm Electro Soft Inc., agreed with Barradell, telling The Post that businesses should accommodate Gen Z workers by offering perks like tuition reimbursement, flexible paid leave policies, hybrid work environments and healthcare coverage that incorporates both their physical and mental well-being.
“The manufacturing sector needs to hire Generation Z workers in particular to survive, and we shouldn’t be hesitant to hire them, but we need to attract them in an appropriate way,” Trotman told The Post.
