Better Understanding of Modern Day Apprentices

Robert Russell

University of Missouri Labor Education

Program

MACC 2015

Four Generations in the Workforce

Silent/Traditionalists (born 1925-1945)

Age 70-90

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)

Age 51-69

Generation X (born 1965-1980)

Age 35-50

Millennials/Gen Y (born 1981 to ?)

Age ?-34

Millennials Are Now the Largest Generation of Workers in the US

Fry, Richard. May 11, 2015. “Millennials Surpass Gen Xers as the largest generation in U.S. Labor Force.” Pew Research Center. Found online at http://pewrsr.ch/1Ewsn9N.

Why do Millennials Believe They’re Unique?

Pew Research Center. “Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change.” February 24, 2010. Found at http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2010/10/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-change.pdf

The Millennial Generation

At age 18-33, Millennials are:

• Larger than Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Silents

• Better educated (more degreed)

• Mixed re: Labor Force Participation

• Racially/ethnically diverse

• More metropolitan

• Less likely to be veterans

Millennial Stereotypes

• Earnest & Optimistic

• Embrace the System

• Pragmatic idealists, tinkerers, life hackers

• Non-hierarchical & don’t identify with big institutions

• Need for constant approval

• Narcissistic, entitled, and over-parented

Joel Stien. “Millennials: the Me Me Me Generation.” Time. Originally published May 20, 2013. Available online at http://time.com/247/millennials-the-me-me-me-generation/

A Few Millennial Realities

• Politically Independent, but votes Democratic

• Avid users of technology

• Less trustworthy of others

• Job hopping on par with previous generations at their age

– Don’t expect to stay in jobs long

• Majority have a favorable view of labor unions

Millennials at Work

• More impatient about advancement or moving

• More open to a flexible work schedule

• More methodical in their work

• Want to show up later & work shorter hours

Jacquelyn Smith. September 3, 2012. “How Millennials Work Differently From Everyone Else.” Forbes. Accessed online at http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/09/13/how-millennials-work-differently-from-everyone-else/

What do Millennials Want at Work?

• Instant Gratification & Recognition

• Work-life Balance & Flexibility

• Collaboration

• Transparency

• Opportunities for career advancement

Connecting with Millennials

• Most active on Social Media

– 89% of 18-29 year olds use social media

• Communicate through smartphones

– 67% of 18-29 year olds access social media through smartphones

• Increasingly global networks & the changing conception of community

Coming Soon: Generation Z

• Generation after millennials

– No clear age range, but generally < 20 years old

• About 1 million more members than Millennials

• Smartphone/Social Media Generation

– 9 out of 10 teens use social media

– 92% online daily, 24% online all the time

– Declining Facebook usage, moving to Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms

Coming Soon: Generation Z

• Instantaneous information & short attention spans

• Obsession with safety but given more freedom than Millennials

• Cautious, more mature, focus on sensible careers

• Entrepreneurial, particularly social entrepreneurism

• Most diverse generation in US History

• Global outlook & networks

• Grew up in inclusive classrooms with differentiated instruction

Coming Soon: Generation Z

Sparks & Honey. “Meet Generation Z: Forget Everything You Learned About Millennials.” Presentation available at http://www.slideshare.net/sparksandhoney/generation-z-final-june-17. Accessed October 1, 2015.

Connecting with Generation Z

• Embrace their diversity

• Keep it short (“snackable content”)

• Communicate across multiple screens & platforms

• Connect with collaboration & livestreaming technology

– Learn through YouTube & other social media sites

• Help them become expertsSparks & Honey. “Meet Generation Z: Forget Everything You Learned About Millennials.” Presentation available at http://www.slideshare.net/sparksandhoney/generation-z-final-june-17. Accessed October 1, 2015.

Connecting with Generation Z

• Inspire them, particularly over social causes

• Feed their curiosity

• Collaborate with them – and help them collaborate with others

Sparks & Honey. “Meet Generation Z: Forget Everything You Learned About Millennials.” Presentation available at http://www.slideshare.net/sparksandhoney/generation-z-final-june-17. Accessed October 1, 2015.

Questions?