Generation Z: what are their professional expectations?

The new entrants to the professional world are Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2010. By 2025, this generation will represent 27% of the working population in OECD member countries. They are described as ultra-connected. Normal, when you've never known the world without the Internet and you've grown up with a smartphone. Were young people and work better before? Do digital natives make better employees than their elders? Are they harder to recruit and retain? Let's draw together a portrait of Generation Z and its professional expectations.

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Generation Z: professional expectations linked to their values

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Concerned about ecological issues, particularly prevented by the health crisis, this generation is questioning the impact and scope of its actions. 68% of young people want to get involved in preserving the planet, according to an IFOP study entitled "The French and the Environment". Concerned about inclusion issues, they are more sensitive to prejudice and discrimination against LGBT people, gender equality and racism (BBC survey). If you want them to join you and stay with you, you'll need to take an interest in Generation Z values. You need to show that you care about societal issues.

Sharing a clear vision and giving a goal to achieve for the common good are keys to arousing their interest. In short, you have to make sense of their work.
When is it important to deliver your messages? As early as the onboarding process, you can communicate about the company's project. In addition, you can share the values held dear by your managers by organizing strategic events outside the office, such as a company seminar or team building. These events will also enable you to detail your CSR actions.

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Young employees want flexibility at work

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To understand Generation Z is to know that it pays particular attention to a good work/life balance. In the past, to prove to your manager that you were committed, you relied on being in the office long hours. This image is outdated.
We can even see that young people are prepared to earn less in order to achieve greater daily fulfillment. For example, according to Stewart Chau, consultant and author of the book La Fracture, 59% of 18-30 year-olds would be willing to reduce their salary by 5% if their office was less than 20 minutes from home.
It is important for your young employees to have time for leisure, associations and personal development. Until now, our career paths were linked to those of our companies. Nowadays, it's possible to be a slasher and combine several jobs, take evening classes or train online.
To meet this need for flexibility, young people would like to become entrepreneurs or freelancers. Indeed, today's successful entrepreneurs are as popular as artists and sports stars. Nearly one in two young people aged between 18 and 30 would like to be their own boss one day (France Active 2022 study). It's a way of making a greater impact, but also of managing one's schedule as one sees fit.

This generation is entering the professional world at a time when telecommuting has become widespread in the wake of the pandemic. They appreciate the flexibility offered by remote working, but just as much as their
elders. They also like face-to-face work, as they value social interaction and the ties they forge with their colleagues. On the other hand, they want to be able to choose when and where they work.
=> Find out more about telecommuting and work-life balance.

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New entrants to the job market make fewer long-term projections

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Immediacy and immediacy are two words that help us understand the relationship to time of people born with the web. They are more focused on the present moment and have more difficulty preparing for the future. This can also be explained by the succession of anxiety-provoking events that took place during or after their studies: lockdowns, war in Ukraine, heatwaves.
Young employees are not looking for a job, but a mission to fulfil. Once that's over, they'll need a new project that's just as stimulating. They want to acquire skills they can put to good use, but not necessarily in the same company. We no longer dream of a career that starts and ends with the same company. Their goal? To have a variety of enriching experiences. It's worth noting that 18-30 year-olds are also less cautious about changing careers.

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QWL, an essential component in meeting the needs of young
employees

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First of all, it's worth remembering that the mental health and well-being of Generation Z has been particularly hard hit by the health crisis. This has led to a rise in depressive disorders and anxiety symptoms among this population, according to a survey by Inserm and the University of Bordeaux. It may be worthwhile for the organization to provide special support on these issues for young people who have sometimes had to interrupt their studies or discover the world of work from a distance.
QWL (Quality of Life at Work), recently renamed QWLC (Quality of Life and Working Conditions), is a global approach designed to combine people's health at work and the company's performance.
To improve your employees' QWL, why not invite them to cowork as a team in a sublime house in the countryside? It's a great way to experiment with a different way of working together, to strengthen bonds between colleagues, while enjoying the benefits of nature.
Generation Y at work, Generation X at work, Generation Z at work: each has its own specificities and operating methods. Understanding them well is the key to their successful integration into the company. Meaning, impact, freedom, flexibility, QWL, well-being: as we have seen, these words are at the heart of Generation Z and its professional expectations.

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Sources:
Podcast: Work in Progress, Louie Media - What does Generation Z dream of?
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https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/transition-generation-z-ses-nouvelles-attentes-profession
nelles

https://business.ladn.eu/experts-metiers/management-rh/ressources-humaines/generation-z-attentes-
vie-professionnelle/

https://www2.deloitte.com/fr/fr/pages/talents-et-ressources-humaines/articles/millennials-survey.html‍‍

https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/soft-power/radiographie-de-la-generation-z-5404556‍‍

https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/vie-de-bureau/vie-pro-vie-perso-ces-jeunes-salaries-qui-font-saut
er-les-barrieres_782019‍

https://www.franceactive.org/communiques/1-jeune-sur-2-souhaite-se-lancer-dans-lentrepreneuriat-et-
pour-beaucoup-dans-un-projet-dentreprise-engagee/

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