According to a survey conducted by ResumeBuilder.com, 74 percent find Generation Z workers more challenging than older employees. Employers revealed that Gen Z workers often have a superiority complex, believing they are smarter, more capable, and better than their superiors. Generation Z, born around 1997, is the youngest workforce cohort in America, and they are making their presence known by being less engaged in work, experiencing stress and burnout, and frequently seeking new job opportunities. Employers cited various reasons for finding it difficult to work with Gen Z, including lack of motivation, poor productivity, communication issues, short attention spans, entitlement, occasional dishonesty, and inadequate or excessive technological skills.
The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters as many Gen Zers entered the workforce remotely, lacking the foundational workplace skills and human contact that other generations had. However, employers have also noted that Gen Z workers bring fresh ideas and ambitions to the job, challenging the status quo and valuing authenticity and ethical practices. One area where they struggle is interpersonal skills, particularly in face-to-face interactions. A survey by Deloitte highlighted a divide between Gen Z employees and their employers regarding the importance of empathy in leadership, with Gen Zers ranking it highly while bosses did not.
The survey emphasized the need for employers to provide coaching and mentoring to Gen Z hires and improve the interview process. In response to their concerns about Gen Z, employers expressed a preference for hiring millennials. However, it is important to note that not too long ago, millennials faced similar challenges and were misunderstood by employers. As the older generations try to understand the next generation, it is crucial to recognize that with time and experience, millennials have become sought-after employees.