5 Things Generations are Looking for Today

It’s no surprise that Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z are more tech-savvy than any other generations before them. After all, Gen Z and Millennials witnessed the birth of the Internet and cell phones, and these technologies were already around by the time Gen Xers were born. In fact, 92% of Gen Z have some form of digital footprint³. 

About 25% of Millennials admit to being addicted to mobile devices, while 40% of Gen Zers say the same⁴. This means that they are comfortable working with various technological tools, including tablets, computers and smartphones, along with learning new software or programs.

It’s safe to say that all these generations use devices and modern technology to fix, change and create new solutions and opportunities in hopes of finding better and easier ways of doing things.

Who doesn’t want a healthy work-life balance?

These generations are focused on finding roles where they can work hard and still find enough time to socialize, travel, spend time with loved ones, and even pursue personal goals or side gigs. Every generation wants a better work-life balance, but Gen Z is more vocal about their needs. About 41% of Generation Z indicate time off as the number one perk when working.⁵

The desire for work-life balance may help develop strong time-management skills as well as improved strategic-thinking skills when planning daily tasks and overall life goals.

Generation X, Gen Y and Z  prefer a working environment that offers stability and flexibility. They have a “work hard, play hard” mentality, value diversity and appreciate humor. More freedom and flexibility in a job is a highly attractive factor for Gen Z. Half of Gen Z prioritize flexibility⁸ when choosing a career.

Working independently is just as important to all these generations as setting their own schedule. Many prefer to manage projects on their own to showcase their skills and abilities. An environment where they can demonstrate their skills and resourcefulness, as well as allowing for creativity, can help them thrive and be more productive.

While recognition is a great motivator for all generations, the actual difference lies in how every generation prefers their praise and rewards to be delivered.

Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X respond better to recognition with praise and rewards⁶. This can include positive feedback, experiential rewards and perks. They want to know that their work impacts the organization and acknowledging their accomplishments will go a long way in improving their morale. This translates to higher chances of retaining them.

Rather than working individually and focusing on a set of tasks, Millennials and Gen Z enjoy working together to complete tasks. Roughly 61% of Millennial workers⁷ indicate that cross functional collaboration increases their likelihood to stay at an organization.

Collaboration results in diverse ideas and fosters a results-oriented work environment with everyone working towards a shared goal.