What Will the Next Generation of Workers Look Like?

In the past, it was common for workers to stay with one company for several years. Some people even worked for the same companies for several decades. Because different types of workers are entering the workforce, this is now less common. Some workers want a better work-life balance, while others want bigger responsibilities from the moment they get hired. The retiring of baby boomers and the impact of Generation Y workers will change the face of the workforce forever.

Members of Generation X are now anywhere between 34 and 47 years old. This means they are next in line to replace baby boomers who will be retiring during the next few years. In a Time Magazine article from 2009, Janet Reid, the managing partner of a consulting firm, said members of Generation X will be in charge by 2019. She also says that these new business leaders will need to be prepared to manage an unrecognizable workforce. The things that mattered to baby boomers are not as important to members of Generation Y, so new managers will need to know how to manage different types of workers. Human resource professionals will also need to adjust their hiring strategies to accommodate the different types of workers who are members of Generation Y.

Members of Generation Y were born between 1977 and 1994. They have a reputation for being sophisticated when it comes to technology, so you may have an easier time filling jobs in the IT department. There will be some challenges dealing with different types of workers from this generation, however. They have been taught to ask questions about everything, so you may have a difficult time getting younger workers to work independently and research the answers to their own questions. Some millennials also have the idea that they are entitled to automatic promotions or pay rises. Human resources professionals must be able to make it clear that promotions, bonuses, and pay increases will be awarded based on performance. You will also need to be skilled at hiring people, operations management, and benefits management.

People born between 1995 and 2012 are members of Generation Z. The earliest members of this generation are just turning 18 and getting ready to go to college or get their first jobs, so their potential impact on the workforce is not yet clear. What we do know is that the different types of workers from this generation will be very comfortable using technology, as they have never lived in a world where the Internet did not exist. Members of Generation Z are also more comfortable with diversity, which could have a positive impact on the workforce.

The human resources field is a challenging one, mostly because the challenges of hiring and managing different types of workers change regularly. What works for today's human resources professionals will likely be less effective ten years from now, so you must be willing to adapt to industry changes. The ability to manage different types of workers will make you successful at managing people, operations management, and managing employee relations.

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