Almost two-thirds (63%) of employer respondents believe generation Z will disrupt the workforce more than any other generation, according to research by Capita Resourcing.
Its Generation Z – HR leaders’ agents of change research, based on a survey of 1,015 employees aged 16-20 and 106 senior HR professionals, also found that 83% of employer respondents see attracting the next generation of employees as a bigger business challenge than meeting growth targets or innovating.
The research also found:
- More than two-thirds (68%) of employer respondents think that generation Z employees are generally underprepared for the demands of working life.
- 81% of employee respondents are confident they have the right attitude to succeed in the workplace and 65% are confident they possess the right skills.
- 71% of employer respondents believe that generation Z want the freedom to work where and how they choose, and 69% think that generation Z employees want a high starting salary.
- 58% of employee respondents view a higher starting salary as preferable to flexible- hours and location (42%).
- Two-thirds (66%) of employee respondents favour a higher starting salary over unlimited holiday (34%).
- More than half (57%) of employee respondents would prefer their pay to be based on performance rather than receiving a higher base level of pay (43%)
Nicola McQueen (pictured), managing director at Capita Resourcing, said: “Businesses need to see generation Z as agents of change that can act as the driving force behind new initiatives that benefit every generation of employee.
“Yet that’s not to say existing working practices need a major overhaul to accommodate this. On the contrary, there’s a danger that investment in new resources, policies and procedures aimed solely at this cohort could make a significant dent in the bottom line to no avail.”
