Did you know that Gen Z, the group born between 1997-2012, represents 32% of the global population and will account for 27% of the workforce by 2025? These “digital natives” have been shaped by social media, the COVID-19 pandemic and an uncertain financial landscape. Their unprecedented access to information and communication has shaped their behaviors, expectations, and perspectives. And, as we saw in our article above, it has also shaped the way they approach career advice and the workplace.

For many employers, Gen Z can be a tough group to figure out. What are they looking for in a career? If they’re hired, how can organizations make sure they don’t jump ship quickly? Gen Z tends to be socially conscious and values diversity, inclusion and sustainability. They seek purpose and meaning in their careers, placing a strong emphasis on personal growth, continuous learning and making a positive impact.

Last month, we looked at a few of the top things younger job seekers are looking for in the workplace. Here, we’ll look at 3 proven ways to keep them once they’re in the office:

• Assign projects that align with their passions and values: Taking the time to understand the individual passions and values of your Gen Z employees will help ignite their motivation. When assigning projects, consider their interests and align them with their core values.
• Provide regular feedback and progress updates: Gen Z employees want to know how they’re performing. It’s important to provide regular, specific feedback on their work and progress, highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement. Also, providing progress updates will give them a clear understanding of how their work contributes to the larger goals of the organization.
• Give them autonomy and ownership: Micromanaging Gen Z is the first step towards showing them the door. These younger employees thrive when given autonomy and will be empowered if they can take the lead on projects and make decisions. It shows that you value their input and believe in their capabilities – and it goes a long way with this generation.

Gen Z also prefers consuming information in bite-sized, easily digestible formats. Offering “microlearning” opportunities is a great way to cater to this preference. Examples include: breaking down training materials, onboarding and development resources into shorter modules or interactive formats.

As you look at your hiring strategies for 2024, how are you approaching attracting and retaining Gen Z employees? It may not be something you’ve thought a lot about and you may feel that the same old tactics will be “good enough”. Not taking the time to get to know the wants and needs of Gen Z can really put your organization at a disadvantage. Leah M Joppy and Associates is ready to help you hone your Gen Z recruitment strategy and will look at your current workplace environment, culture and more to make suggestions as to how you can attract younger team members. Call us at 301-670-0051 or email us at leah@lmja.com to learn more.