Millennials vs. Gen Z: Key Differences in The Workplace
As the United States is facing a skills gap in most industries, it is more critical than ever for employers to fill their talent pipelines. And while executives have spent the last decade trying to understand and work in harmony with Millennials, they must now acclimate to the younger and even larger Generation Z. How is Generation Z different from Millennials? What are their greatest aspirations and concerns for the future? How are they looking for work? What do they want in a career? Get the answers right here.
Who is a Millennial? And who is a member of Gen Z?
You may have an idea, but let’s be 100% sure that we’re all on the same page. As you may think, defining the two generations is based entirely on dates—in this case, years. A Millennial is anyone born between 1980 and 1995. In the U.S., there are roughly 80 million Millennials. A member of Gen Z is anyone born between 1996 and the early-mid 2000s (end date can vary depending on source). In the U.S., there are approximately 90 million members of Gen Z, or “Gen Zers.”
Generation Z vs Millennials: Key Takeaways
Thanks to our Way to Work survey, which surveyed 1,001 Americans who are mostly currently in college or recently graduated and in their late teens to mid-20s, we know the primary differences between the two generations and how these differences might play out in the workplace. Here are three key takeaways—or differences between Millennials and Gen Z regarding work—with more to follow in our infographic.
- Members of Gen Z are more concerned about the cost of education (21% of respondents), compared to Millennials (13% of respondents).
- Millennials value stability (34%), while Gen Z puts more of an emphasis on finding their dream job (32%).
- More Gen Zers follow their parents’ influence (42%), compared to their Millennial counterparts (36%).
The Infographic’s Insights
If you’re interested in seeing more takeaways from the survey, check out our infographic, “The difference between Gen Z and Millennials.” We’ve taken the most compelling insights from the survey and made them easy to view. Using these insights, you’ll better understand both groups of workers and can start crafting talent recruitment and retention strategies for these differing generations and their preferences, building a talent pipeline your business can thrive on for years to come.
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- Generation Z refers to the generation born between 1997-2012, following millennials.
- Gen Z will soon become the largest cohort of consumers—and brands who want a piece of this opportunity will need to understand their tendencies and digital expectations.
- Do you work in the Ecommerce and Retail industry? Get business insights on the latest tech innovations, market trends, and your competitors with data-driven research.
Generation Z (aka Gen Z, iGen, or centennials), refers to the generation that was born between 1997-2012, following millennials. This generation has been raised on the internet and social media, with some of the oldest finishing college by 2020 and entering the workforce.
Insider Intelligence has been tracking Gen Z’s characteristics, traits, values, and trends to develop in-depth statistics, facts, and marketing strategies targeting what will soon become the largest cohort of consumers.
The number of US Gen Z digital buyers will surpass 41 million in 2022. Insider Intelligence
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Gen Z Terms and Definitions
What is Generation Z (Gen Z)?
Generation Z, is the youngest, most ethnically-diverse, and largest generation in American history, comprising 27% of the US population. Pew Research recently defined Gen Z as anyone born after 1996. 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.”
What are Millennials (Gen Y)?
Millennials, also known as Generation Y, include anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 26 to 41 in 2022) and represent about a quarter of the US population. Much of this cohort entered the workforce at the height of the Great Recession, and have struggled with the subsequent widening of the generational wealth gap.
Millennials have led older generations in technology adoption and embracing digital solutions. Their financial status and tech-savviness have fundamentally changed how they live and work—earning them stereotypes that they job hop and have killed a number of industries. Prior to Gen Z, millennials were the largest and most racially and ethnically diverse generation.
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What is Generation X (Gen X)?
Generation X, also known as Gen X, the latchkey generation or, jokingly, the forgotten or middle child generation, consists of people born between 1965 and 1980 (ages 42-57 in 2022). Currently, Gen X comprises 20.6% of the US population, making them smaller than any other age demographic.
This cohort grew up with higher divorce rates and more two-income households, resulting in a general lack of an adult presence in their childhoods and teenage years. As such, Gen X is generally viewed as peer-oriented and entrepreneurial in spirit.
What is Generation Alpha?
Some members of Gen Alpha (born in the early 2010s) can barely walk, but it’s already set to be the most transformative generation yet. Alphas haven’t just grown up with technology—they’ve been completely immersed in it since birth. Early in their formative years, these children are comfortable speaking to voice assistants and swiping on smartphones. They don’t consider technologies to be tools used to help achieve tasks, but rather as deeply integrated parts of everyday life.
FAQs About Gen Z
What are the Generation Z birth years & age range?
Generation Z is broadly defined as the 72 million people born between 1997 and 2012, but Pew Research has recently defined Gen Z as anyone born after 1996.
Generation Z vs. Millennials (Gen Y)
Gen Z most closely mirrors millennials on key social and political issues, but without much of the optimism; More US Gen Zers than any other generation (68%) feel the US is headed in the wrong direction, and fewer Gen Zers than any other generation (32%) feel the country is headed in the right direction.
Is Generation Z conservative?
Generation Z considers itself more accepting and open-minded than any generation before it. Almost half of Gen Zs are minorities, compared to 22% of Baby Boomers, and the majority of Gen Z supports social movements such as Black Lives Matter, transgender rights, and feminism.
What are common names for Generation Z?
Generation Z, or Gen Z, is also sometimes referred to as iGen, or Centennials.
What is after Generation Z?
The generation that follows Gen Z is Generation Alpha, which includes anyone born after 2010. Gen Alpha is still very young, but is on track to be the most transformative age group ever.
What are the common Generation Z characteristics?
The average Gen Z got their first smartphone just before their twelfth birthday. They communicate primarily through social media and texts, and spend as much time on their phones as older generations do watching television.
The majority of Gen Zs prefer streaming services to traditional cable, as well as getting snackable content they can get on their phones and computers.
In terms of US population by generation, Gen Z is the most ethnically diverse and largest generation in American history, and eclipses all other generations before it in embracing diversity and inclusion.
More to Learn
Generation Z will soon become the most pivotal generation to the future of retail, and many will have huge spending power by 2026. To capture a piece of this growing cohort, retailers and brands need to start establishing relationships with Gen Zers now.
But Gen Zers are different from older generations, because they are the first consumers to have grown up wholly in the digital era. They’re tech-savvy and mobile-first—and they have high standards for how they spend their time online.
After ignoring the digital revolution and millennial buyers for too long, retailers and brands have spent the last decade trying to catch up to millennials’ interests and habits—so it’s critical for them to get ahead of Gen Z’s tendency to be online at all times, and make sure to meet this generation’s digital expectations.