Gen Z's Workforce Struggles

Generation Z

Kids these days not valuing hard work is an old idea. It's likely outdated and doesn't reflect real problems. People change as they age. Gen Z is a special case, though. Something concerning is happening.

Generation Z - Figure 1
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Reports show that Gen Z workers are having difficulties when it comes to interacting with colleagues and clients in white-collar workplaces. This has been backed up by surveys that reveal that a sizable group of 1,300 managers have terminated Gen Z employees after less than one week on the job.

Proof from the real world shows that this concept is valid. Deloitte and PwC, international accounting firms, spent resources teaching their new employees in Britain about in-person meetings and presentations.

Generation Z - Figure 2
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Gen Z is facing issues in the workplace and also experiencing inner turmoil. American young adults have seen a 63% increase in rates of anxiety and depression between 2005 and 2017. After facing a global pandemic that disrupted their formative years, more than half of Gen Z is reporting feelings of distress.

Studying the college campus can help understand new white-collar workers' lack of preparedness and vulnerability.

Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff wrote a book called "The Coddling of the American Mind" in 2018. They say that universities are too obsessed with safety and avoiding risk. The coronavirus pandemic proved them right. Even after it was safe to go back to normal, universities still wanted to do things remotely.

Generation Z - Figure 3
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UC campuses mostly did remote learning in 2022 spring semester. Vaccines were available. This was the third academic year of the pandemic. It became normal to not attend class or turn in assignments. A department head at a New York university said there were guidelines to lower standards for attendance and work submissions till fall 2022.

Schools let underperforming students pass, which sends the wrong message to employers. During the pandemic, Gen Z faced limits that made them want to avoid problems. Authorities didn't want to make things worse, so they lowered expectations. Unfortunately, this prepared students badly for their future jobs.

Generation Z - Figure 4
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Zoomers miss out on hands-on university experiences and may struggle with facing challenges. According to Haidt and Lukianoff, there are three common falsehoods in universities that make it hard for Zoomers to thrive in work environments. These lies are believing that tough situations weaken you, trusting feelings without question, and viewing life as a battle between good and evil. By believing these untruths, young people cannot develop socially, emotionally, or intellectually.

The new white-collar workers have safetyist pathologies. This means they can't handle difficult ideas and conflict. They expect employers to solve all their problems, just like their universities did. Employers have to deal with this issue, but it can lead to new hires losing their jobs quickly.

Generation Z - Figure 5
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University leaders need to ask for accountability to improve the college experience. They need to make things a bit uncomfortable and bring back some risk. This is essential for the well-being of Gen Z and for our workplaces.

Jordan McGillis works as a Paulson Policy Analyst at the Manhattan Institute.

Generation Z - Figure 6
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