With university graduations completed and A-level results out, UK employers will be looking to hire a fresh crop of school and university graduates this autumn. As such, one thing they’ll be thinking about is what they can do to accommodate Generation Z.
To help businesses of all sizes get ready for a fast-changing workforce, Vodafone UK commissioned a nationwide study examining the attributes that matter most to post-millennials entering the workforce. The study revealed five in particular to stand out: team, training, the quality of tech and devices, flexible working and workplace culture.
>See also: How to motivate and engage Generation Z
Generation Z, the study confirmed, absolutely cares about tech – 61% agreed the quality of devices available makes them more productive, compared with a UK average of 55%.
Despite this, they care more about their teams: 74% said their team matters, compared with 60% of Baby-boomers.
Another attribute Gen Z values is the level of training provided: 63% said training makes them more productive on a daily basis, compared with a UK average of 56%.
The study suggests a number of pointers for UK employers:
1. Invest in your teams – given the importance of information sharing in today’s workplace, ensure you have the right technology in place to facilitate team communications.
2. Invest in the right technology and devices – as our study shows, quality tech matters to Gen Z.
3. Invest in training – again, consider how tech can help. After all, your Gen Z employees will expect all training materials to be available online, and accessible 24/7.
Organisations must realise the impact that re-focusing their efforts to cater for the needs of the new generation of candidates entering the workforce can have on boosting overall productivity.
>See also: Why Generation Z is about to take your workplace by storm
Indeed, it was the London School of Economics ‘Power of Productivity’ report, commissioned by Vodafone UK, which highlighted exactly how an organisation can unlock internal productivity with the following three key levers: management practices, use of technology, and workforce flexibility. This means that the processes, tools and working environment must all be people-centric in order to truly create and nurture a productive culture.
Phil Mottram, enterprise director of Vodafone UK, commenting about the findings, said: “As a new generation of digitally savvy young people enter the workforce, British businesses must be ready to adapt to their needs. This research highlights the importance of technology, but also the value of teams and training. With the UK’s productivity already in question, businesses should not be relying on a one-size-fits all model to support such a diverse workforce if they’re to boost productivity. And as Gen Z are the leaders of tomorrow and are key to Britain’s future, it’s vital that businesses look at how to attract and retain this new pool of talent.”
The research commissioned by Vodafone was conducted by independent research company Bryter in May 2017, with 3,019 interviews taking place with employees across the UK.
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