Millennials are arguably the hardest working generation in the workforce today, albeit how they approach work looks drastically different than their older counterparts. Boomers typically approach work in a hierarchical structure.
One-third (32%) of Gen Z respondents say they are the hardest-working generation ever, with Millennials ranked as the second-hardest working generation at 25%. More than half (56%) say the Silent Generation is the least hardworking generation of all time.
Coming from a world where the economy was thriving and opportunities were booming, baby boomers tend to be driven in terms of their work ethic. Many people in this generation had an opportunity for a career and a university education, unlike their counterparts earlier in history.
Greatest Generation (Born 1901-27).
Pros: Survived the Depression, fought and won World War II, rebuilt Europe and led the U.S. economy to the top of the world after the war.
This generation cares greatly about autonomy and work-life balance — almost two-thirds of Gen Z would prefer to work for themselves in a start-up. About half report that they would quit their job if it interfered with their work-life balance.
The youngest generation in the workforce is also more likely to play conservative with their paychecks right now, with Gen Z most likely to put in longer hours or work harder. Nearly a third are also considering taking a second job or a more stable gig in the face of potential recession layoffs.
70% of Gen Z say that anxiety and depression are significant problems among their peers. ² 30% of parents surveyed felt that their child was experiencing negative effects on their emotional or mental health due to social distancing and school closures.
Gen Z is also the smartest and best educated generation. Having an unlimited wealth of information at our disposal has not gone to waste. In America, 57 percent of Gen Z is reported to have enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 52 percent of Millenials and 43 percent of Gen X.
As generational stereotypes go, I nominate Gen X to be, without a doubt, known as "The Coolest Generation." Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964) started off on the right track with the hippie movement in the '60s, but soon became the folks that brought us the “Me Decade,” yuppies, and President Trump.
Generation X was never one for labels. The so-called “slacker” generation of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s was known in its youth for being cynical, rebellious, and not wanting to be put in a box.
As a result, more millennials than ever report being happy. That's especially true compared to the Baby Boomers, which the Pew Research Center labeled the “gloomy” generation. Baby Boomers tended to rate their overall quality of life much lower than non-boomers.
If millennials can combine their focus on saving with an ability to take prudent risks and seek out long-term investment returns, they may earn an entirely new moniker: the Wisest Generation.
Baby Boomers. That's right; adults aged 57 to 70 years old are the most active on a weekly basis, completing on average 215 minutes a week. When you give it some thought, it does make sense.
A new report from Gympass, the world's largest corporate wellbeing platform, has found that despite Gen Z's reputation for shirking work, they are actually the happiest at work and also the hardest working.
76% believe they are responsible for their career development. The Kronos Inc survey shows the priorities Generation Z has when it comes to their work ethic. Generation Z's work ethic calls for: Flexibility, with 26% stating they'd work harder and remain loyal to a company longer if they had flexible schedules.
Gen Xers would come to be known as one of the “least parented, least nurtured generations in U.S. history,” with parents divorcing at historic rates as both mom and dad worked in pursuit of an American Dream.
All hipsters are millennials. But, not all millennials are hipsters. Understanding this could be the key to our management and organizational development issues.
Traditionalists are known as the "silent generation" because children of this era were expected to be seen and not heard. They're those who were born between 1927 and 1946, and they average in age from 75 to 80 years old in 2018.
The Economist has described generation Z as a better-educated, well-behaved, stressed, and depressed generation compared to previous generations. Gen Z is also more ethnically diverse and familiar with gender-neutral pronouns.
Gen Z Terms and Definitions
Pew Research recently defined Gen Z as anyone born 1997 onwards. Gen Z grew up with technology, the internet, and social media, which sometimes causes them to be stereotyped as tech-addicted, anti-social, or “social justice warriors.”
Educated and empathetic. The pair say Gen Z is also the "most educated", "empathetic" and "politically aware" generation, as well as being the most diverse. "They're so accepting of different groups and I think that will have a significant impact both culturally and politically," Christensen says.
New research on mental health has found that 42 percent of Gen Z young adults currently have a diagnosed mental health condition –anxiety and depression being the most common diagnosis.
Gen Z may be the most misunderstood generation
Just like every generation, Gen Z has its own unique set of values and priorities. But unlike the millennials before them, they lack the same opportunities to establish their place in the world. They're also facing more challenges than any other generation before them.