Attracting Generation Z to the labor market
Generation Z is the newest generation in the labor market. Born in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, their behavior and preferences differ significantly from their predecessors.
Attracting Generation Z into the workforce is all about adapting to their needs and wants, because then you as a company can create a work culture that is attractive to this generation and gain access to young, ambitious and digitally competent workers.
Generation Z has grown up with technology and social media as an integral part of their lives. In other words, they are digital natives and are used to having quick and easy access to information. It's therefore important to keep in mind what it takes to attract this generation to positions in your company.
To attract Generation Z, it's important to offer flexible working hours and the ability to work from home. After the pandemic, many people have realized the opportunities and benefits of working from home. This is also the case for Generation Z.
This generation of the workforce often values freedom and flexibility in their working lives. Attracting Generation Z into the labor market is about understanding these needs.
It's also important to be honest about career opportunities and development potential. Generation Z is ambitious and wants to know how they can grow and develop professionally. It's not necessarily titles and hierarchy that are important. Instead, the opportunity to learn and improve is important to Generation Z.
It's also important to focus on creating a great work environment. Generation Z is looking for a work environment that is inclusive, diverse and where well-being with a positive culture is paramount.
This can be achieved by offering ongoing training opportunities. This also ensures that the company has a relevant workforce that makes them competitive in the market. At the same time, social events are important to establish a sense of commitment and engagement with the generation, and many in this generation value social contact with colleagues outside of traditional working hours, including dinners, team days and celebratory events.
Finally, being active on social media is hugely important. As social media is an integral part of Generation Z's everyday life, it's also where they find out about new job opportunities and apply for new jobs.
Therefore, make sure you have a strong presence on relevant platforms and be aware of their preferences and behavior on these platforms. In other words, traditional job portals and databases are not necessarily the most beneficial.
We've written three concrete strategies for you to consider:
1. Create an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Gen Z is a generation that values learning and personal development. Therefore, it is important to create a learning environment that is inclusive and supportive. This can be done by offering flexible learning options, such as online courses or personal mentorship programs, as well as allowing learners to choose their own learning topics and methods. This will help increase their engagement and confidence as they feel they have a say in their own learning and development.
2. Create purpose
Deloitte has conducted a survey based on 300 interviews with millennials and Gen Z. The survey is part of Deloitte's global Millennial Survey 2021 with nearly 23,000 respondents in 45 countries. In this survey, we are firstly made aware that 67 percent of millennials believe that companies focus on their own agenda and not on the wider society. And that's even higher than the 57% who thought so the year before. Climate change is by far the biggest concern for 18-38 year olds, so it says something about how you can retain Gen Z by offering a workplace that makes a tangible difference in the world and conveys that you exist to do good for society.
3. Promote mentorship and networking
Gen Z is also a generation that values connecting with others and learning from them. Therefore, it's important to promote mentorship and networking so they can gain valuable relationships and learn from the experiences of others. This can be done by offering mentorship programs or by promoting networking through organizations or similar. This will help increase their engagement and confidence as they feel they have support and guidance from other experienced individuals.
In total, these three strategies will help build engagement, confidence and skills in Generation Z. By creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment, creating purpose and promoting networking, you can help strengthen their desire to stay with the company and succeed in their career.
Experts in employee retention
At Elvium, we are experts in employee retention and we have extensive know-how about Gen Z. Therefore, we recommend that you use some of the resources we have available on our website. For example, we have guides and checklists. Also, remember that good onboarding helps to ensure a good foundation for employee loyalty. The recruitment process is hugely important when you want to retain Gen Z employees. If you're not already an Elvium customer, start by trying our efficient HR recruitment system yourself!
Getting started with attracting Generation Z into the labor market
With Elvium's recruitment system, you get the tools to communicate effectively with Generation Z. You get the opportunity to work strategically with your employer brand and online presence. Elvium's recruitment system is the key to an easy and simple application process for the generation that values efficiency and fast processes. Elvium gives you the best prerequisites to get the valuable signature of this skilled and ambitious generation.
