Understanding and Motivating Different Generations: Our Students, Our Employees, Our Future

Terri Manning Bobbie Frye Cheryl Roberts

A Study Funded by the Workforce Development Board

It May Take a Village to Raise a Child, but it Takes a Society to Raise a Generation

Economic Conditions Societal Norms Political Events Major Crises

Each Generation

Consists of approximately a 20-year span (not all demographers and generation researchers agree on the exact start/stop dates) Has a unique set of values Reacts to the generation before them Looks at their generation as the standard of comparison Looks at the next generation skeptically these kids today Those born on the cusp may have a blended set of characteristics They are either idealistic, reactive, civic or adaptive

Business Today
Lives in a world created by generations who are (mostly, 95%) no longer working. They were influenced by the military and created a workplace reflecting a hierarchy with a clear chain of command. Employees worked hard to receive raises, bonuses and higher ranks. Higher rank (with the higher salary) was valued and envied by employees on their way up and held in high esteem by those at the top.

How Generational Births Will Impact Retirements

4,500,000 4,300,000 4,100,000 3,900,000 3,700,000 3,500,000 3,300,000 3,100,000 2,900,000 2,700,000 2,500,000

births

(Boomers) (Xers)

(Millennials)

19 40 19 52 19 55 19 58 19 61 19 64 19 67 19 70 19 73 19 76 19 79 19 83 19 86 19 89 19 92 19 95 19 98 20 01 20 04

Changes in that Workforce

100.0% 87.9% 85.0% White African American Other Minority Male Female

80.0%

73.9%

60.0%

54.0%

40.0% 46.0% 20.0% 15.0% 16.3%

11.6%

9.8% 0.0% 5.0%

1900

2000

Who Is Working Today?

1,000 die per day

Youngest are 5 years old

14% 33% 10% 43%

Veterans Boomers Gen X Millennials

Half the size of the generations on either side of them

7,198 turned 60 every day in 2006

Change in American Workers

Lets Look at the Generations - One at a Time

The Veterans Childhood

Raised by the GI Generation (civic) Large families (3-5 children) Strong sense of extended family (same town or home) Grandparents in the home Average 10-year-old spent 4-6 hours daily with a significant adult role model Rural society Apprenticeship businesses and farming Perception of the world as safe

Core Values Dedication Hard Work Conformity Law and Order Patience Delayed Reward Duty before Pleasure Adherence to Rules Honor

They remember when smoking wasnt hazardous to your health?

Did you ever use one of these???

The Veterans First Computer

The Veterans
Children of the Great Depression and WWII, this generation decided not to attack the institutions created by the generation before them, but instead, as global thinkers, they chose to focus on improving and refining them so that they could be good for everyone, not just a select few. The overall goal was not to change the system, but to work within it. While economically very successful, they were also the inventors of "the midlife crises" probably because they didn't get a chance to enjoy the freedoms of their youth.

The Veterans
Important Events Lindbergh Completes First Transatlantic Flight Stock Market Crash Depression The New Deal Social Security Pearl Harbor The End of WWII FDR Dies Korean War

Cultural Memorabilia for the Veterans

Kewpie Dolls Mickey Mouse Flash Gordon Radio Wheaties Tarzan Jukeboxes Blondie The Lone Ranger The McCarthy Era

Veterans - How They Learn

New is not necessarily better Not innovative with new ideas Like structure, schedules and procedures Brain processes new ideas into old mental framework Some refuse to work with technology (too overwhelming a learning curve, others jump in) Want clear expectations and guidelines Must memorize the basics

School Experiences for Veterans

Hard work Respected their elders Children were to be seen and not heard Felt an obligation to make the grade Performance based on individual ability Little feedback unless negative More intrinsic reward for good performance Learned from history (others experiences) Small class size, one curriculum for all No special ed (students no where in sight) Virtually never tested with standardized tests less comparison to others

College Experiences
Lucky to be there few able to attend until the GI Bill then campuses and centers opened all over the country Traditional teaching/learning environment Associate new learning with previous learning Sequencing of knowledge and skills Education is a process must memorize the basics Seek to become content experts Faculty = sage on a stage Experience of mentors is relevant Take time to really understand material Taught by processing through formulas have to understand why things work not that they just do

Values of Faculty/Staff in this Age Group Loyal to employer (company man) and expect the same in return Believe they should be rewarded for tenure Work ethic = efficiency and hard work Stable, thorough and detail oriented Dont buck the system but work within it Uncomfortable with conflict and disagreements Not change oriented

Changes in the Workforce

Veterans have experienced the most change in their lifetime. They have had to adapt to:
Computers Communication channels changing World getting smaller Keeping up with rapid increases in information Move from content to process

Marketing to Veterans
Faith in the government and national institutions Want quality but believe standard options are fine (not luxury) Loyal customers that follow the rules

The Baby Boomers 19431964 (the largest generation, idealist)

Divorce reached a low in 1960 of 9% Families moved due to GI Bill, GI housing and industrialization First generation to live miles from Core Values extended family Optimism Family size smaller (2-3 children) Team Orientation Personal Gratification Few grandparents in the home Health and Wellness Moms stayed home no daycare Personal Growth Youth Children spent significant time with Work adult role models (mostly mom) Involvement Perception of the world as safe

Baby Boomers

Important Events Rosa Parks First Nuclear Power Plant The Civil Rights Act Cuban Missile Crisis John Glen Orbits the Earth Martin Luther King Leads March on Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy Assassination National Organization for Women Founded Martin Luther King Assassination Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Watergate Kent State Massacre Vietnam War Woodstock

Cultural Memorabilia for Baby Boomers

Television The Ed Sullivan Show Barbie Dolls Fallout Shelters Poodle Skirts Pop Beads Slinkies TV Dinners Hula Hoops The Peace Sign Laugh In

Remember these

Boomers First Computer

Baby-boomer Results
Very idealistic - banned together and walked through life with their fists held high Generation gap occurred between them and their parents Captured phrases like why be normal and question authority They werent friendly toward authority figures Did not get along with their parents and swore they would not raise their kids like they were raised As adults - work an average of 55 hours per week

How Boomers Learn

Want things to fit into the big picture Want recognition for how well they have done Team oriented, work well in groups Like to explore and analyze, look at different views Follow instructions well Good with content

Boomers Educational Experiences

Overwhelmed the school system, large class sizes Ability grouped (red birds and blue birds) Question authority but respect position See life as an adventure (and school) Emphasis on team work (cohort education) Need silence to concentrate Were told you are lucky to be here, others are standing in line to get in. Want to feel valued No special ed students in school but honors courses in a few subjects Rarely tested and not for school performance (PSAT, SAT)

College Experiences
Attending more common boom in 60s and 70s College campuses a reflection of turbulent times faculty often rebels Kent State Massacre, etc. Emphasis on self-exploration, mind expansion, lots of philosophizing in classes - content over-explained and overanalyzed deep thinkers (not necessarily critical thinkers) Aspire to intellectualism Some career emphasis but still heavy general education and classics-based Left home and never looked back Emphasis on memorization and skill built upon skill Taught by process and to be content experts No technology print by mimeograph machines

Boomer Faculty/Staff Values

Majority of faculty and significant number of students (age 45-66ish) Always share personal experience what has happened to me is relevant to you Value stability and respect Like to see their successes Tend to workaholism and have difficulty balancing their lives, working 40 hours is slack. Are competitive See themselves as the standard of comparison Appreciate technology because of how easy it makes their work still fear they might break it and may have a back-up plan

Boomers at Work
Ethic = long hours show commitment Team oriented and relationship builders (dont like conflict cant we all just get along) Not budget minded Sensitive to feedback

Marketing to Boomers
Are individualistic so they like customized and custom-made products Want to look successful (lots of stuff) Seek self-improvement Products/services that help them reach a balanced life (work/home) Like technology but see the problems that come with it

The Late Veterans and Early Boomers Gave Birth to the Next Generation
The Gen Xers 19651982 A Lost Generation A Nomadic Generation.. Half the Size of the Baby Boom (reactive) 41 Million

The Gen X Childhood

Divorce reached an all-time high Single-parent families became the norm Core Values Latch-key kids were a major issue Dedication of the time Hard Work Children not as valued looked at Conformity as a hardship Law and Order Families spread out (miles apart) Patience Family size = 1.7 children (many Delayed reward only-children) Duty before Perception of the world as unsafe pleasure Average 10 year old spent 14 Adherence to minutes a day with a significant adult role model rules Parents looked around and said Honor we need to do this better

Gen X

Important Events Womens Liberation Protests Watergate Scandal Energy Crisis begins Tandy and Apple Market PCs Mass Suicide in Jonestown Three Mile Island US Corporations begin Massive Layoffs Iran Hostage Crisis John Lennon Shot and Killed Ronald Reagan Inaugurated Challenger Disaster Exxon Valdez Oil Tanker Spill HIV

Cultural Memorabilia for Gen X

The Brady Bunch Pet Rocks Platform Shoes The Simpsons Evening Soaps (Dallas and Dynasty) ET Cabbage Patch Dolls Super-hero Cartoons on TV (He-man)

Remember these..

Gen Xs First Computer

Was this your first video game?

Was this your first calculator and cell phone?

Generation X
This is the conscientious, extremely pragmatic, self-sufficient generation that has a ruthless focus on the bottom-line. Born and raised at a time when children were at the bottom of our social priorities, Gen Xers learned that they could only count on one thing - themselves. As a result, they are very "me" oriented. They are not active voters, nor are they deeply involved in politics in general. Parents looked around and said we have to do this better.

How Gen Xers Learn

Task oriented like to learn new skills Speed is important Self-paced learning, independent learning Want to have fun while they learn Informal learning environments are best Hate group work Want feedback from teacher

Educational Experiences
Learned to rely on self (dont like group work) Distrust authority Seek challenging environment (career education emphasis) Want feedback on progress Want to do things their way like no rules and freedom on assignments Had special ed classrooms in school but separated Had honors programs Funding cut to education Testing mania began with them First daycare centers arose with them Many latch-key kids

College Experiences
Numbers dropped from 60s and 70s More emphasis on career education Technology began to emerge (Eric Silver Platter, FAX machines, PCs [Apple and Tandy], calculators) More extracurricular activities Some self-paced learning Costs increased, more financial aid More structure and group activity Experiential exercises emerged Began learning on my own due to technology

Gen Xers as Faculty/Staff

Significant number of faculty and significant number of students (age 28-44ish) Cynical, pessimistic and impatient with poorer people skills Want work-life balance Think globally and seek independence Like technology and want an informal work environment Dont want the boomers work ethic Communication is important and talk to adults as friends/peers (not impressed with authority) Believe reward should be based on productivity not hours worked Want control of self, time and future Loyalty to people not a company

Generation Next (civic)

The Echo Boom/Millennials

The Millennials are almost as large as the baby boom-some say larger - depending on how you measure them (approx. 81M).

The Millennials are the children born between 1982 and 2002 (peaked in 1990), a cohort called by various names:
Echo Boom

Generation Y

Millennials

Net Generation

Things Began to Change for This Generation

Abortion rates peaked in 1980 and began a slow decline. Poverty rate for children peaked in 1983 and began a slow decline (Medicaid began). US divorce rate peaked in 1981 and began a decline. Homicide rate against children peaked in 1982 and began a decline. They were born into a better world, a more optimistic world than the generation before them.

Millennials
This generation is civic-minded, much like the previous GI Generation. They are collectively optimistic, long-term planners, high achievers with lower rates of violent crime, teen pregnancy, smoking and alcohol use than ever before. This generation believes that they have the potential to be great and they probably do. We are looking to them to provide us with a new definition of citizenship.

The Millennial Childhood

The most monumental financial boom in history. Steady income growth through the 1990s. Still great disparity between races. Saw their parents lose all their stocks and mutual funds (college funds) during the early 2000s.

Demographic Trends
The Baby Boomers chose to become older parents in the 1980s while Gen X moms reverted back to the earlier birth-age norm, which meant that two generations were having babies. In 1989, 29 percent of the 4.4 million live births were to women aged 30 and older. Millennials have older largely Baby Boomer parents: Average age of mothers at birth at an all time high of 27 in 1997.

Demographic Trends, cont.

Smaller families: Only children will comprise about 10% of the population.

More parental education: 1 in 4 has at least one parent with a college degree.
Kids born in the late 90s are the first in American history whose mothers are better educated than their fathers by a small margin.

Demographic Trends Changing Diversity Increase in Latino immigration Latino women tend to have a higher fertility rates than nonLatino women.

Nearly 35% of Millennials are nonwhite or Latino. Twenty percent of this generation has at least one parent who is an immigrant.

Millennials have become the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in US History.

Safety Issues
The Safest Generation
This generation was buckled up in car seats, wore bike helmets, elbow and knee pads when skating, and were the inspiration for Baby on Board signs.

The Well-Being of U.S. Teens

Mortality Rate for US teens aged 1519 declined from 1960 to 1997.

-Teens are having fewer accidents than Boomers

Millennial School Experiences

Many private schools, charter schools, magnet schools all to meet the needs of the individual child many, many choices School uniforms, child safety, high performance standards, character education, cooperative learning and community service Goal oriented outcome based education (whats in it for me) School is a means to an end one must endure until the next level Interactive, participatory and engaging are consulted by adults Everything 24/7 and available electronically

Millennial School Experiences

No grunt work - must do meaningful work, participate in decisions International flavor, celebrate diversity, different is okay Motivated by working with bright, motivated and moral people Student makes judgments about truth and believability of what is taught Classroom mainstreamed multiple levels based on ability and interest Constantly tested and compared to peers (learned to take tests so now of little use for college admissions) Feel pressure for high achievement

How Millennials Learn

Try it their way always looking for better, faster way of doing things Prefer graphics before text, reading of excerpts Like small and fast processing technology best when networked Want instant gratification and frequent rewards (spot)

How Millennials Learn

Focus on skill development not memorization of what they perceive they dont need to know Productivity is key not attendance so make class worthwhile or they wont come Have different critical thinking skills based on their high tech world not thought processing (need help here) Rely on teacher to facilitate learning Group think and interaction

Millennial College Experiences

Multiple options state, private, proprietary schools, community colleges, dual and concurrently enrolled, middle college, etc. (Where does one start and another begin?) make the choice by whats best for me. Fast paced learning Group activities (learning communities, peer tutoring, service learning, supplemental instruction) More assumed responsibility from colleges for the social issues of students (before, faculty werent concerned) Dont want or need silence to concentrate freaks out the librarians

Millennial College Experiences

All possible content is on the internet need process and skills-based Get out as fast as you can Stay home as long as you can are protected and mentored Get do-overs often Lots of technology, no tolerance for delays Are not hardy, drop out and quit easily Dislike ambiguity just tell us what we need to know

At Your Tables
Discuss:
When you were an undergraduate student and had a paper assigned in a class, what was your process for preparing for and writing the paper?
Where did your reference material come from? How long did it take? Would it be done differently today?

Major Influencing Factors

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Their parents The self-esteem movement The customer service movement Gaming and technology Casual communication

Parenting Millennials
This generation is being parented by welleducated, over-involved adults who participate in deliberate parenting. They have outcomes in mind. Boomers were the first generation to be thrown out in to an unsafe world as adolescents. The 60s and 70s were very scary and many of us felt unprepared for it. We were nave and didnt have enough tools in our tool box to deal with it.

Baby Boomers as Parents

Boomers rebelled against the parenting practices of their parents. Strict discipline was the order of the day for boomers. They made conscious decisions not to say because I told you so or because Im the parent and youre the child. Boomers became more friendly with their children. They wanted to have open lines of communication and a relationship with them.

Baby Boomers as Parents

They explained things to their children, (actions, consequences, options, etc.) they wanted them to learn to make informed decisions. They allowed their children to have input into family decisions, educational options and discipline issues. We told them just because it is on television doesnt mean its true or you cant believe everything you read. We wanted them to question authority.

The Result
Millennials have become a master set of negotiators who are capable of rational thought and decision-making skills at young ages. They will negotiate with anyone including their parents, teachers and school administrators. Some call this arguing.

Helicopter Parents
Helicopter Parent (n) A parent who hovers over his or her children. Or Snowplow parent: Parents who clear the way for their children these (echo) boomers are confident, achievement-oriented and used to hovering "helicopter" parents keeping tabs on their every move. (Anthony DeBarros, "New baby boom swamps colleges," USA Today, January 2, 2003)

Helicopter Parent go to College

A new generation of over-involved parents are flooding campus orientations, meddling in registration and interfering with students' dealings with professors, administrators and roommates, school officials say. Some of these hovering parents, whose numbers have been rising for several years, are unwittingly undermining their children's chances of success, campus administrators say. Now, universities and colleges are moving rapidly to build or expand programs aimed at helping parents strike a better balance.
Colleges Ward Off Overinvolved Parents By Sue Shellenbarger From The Wall Street Journal Online

Baby Boomer Parents have been their Biggest Cheerleaders

Millennials expect and need praise. Will mistake silence for disapproval. Millennials expect feedback.

Parental Care in the Millennial Era

Todays typical family is spending more, not less, time with kids. Smaller families mean more time with each child. Fathers are spending more time with children. Less housework is being done. There is a strong connection between the social lives of parents and kids. They get along with their parents and share their parents values.

Who are your heroes?

An Associate Press/MTV poll asked millennials who they looked up to as heroes?
50% said their parents (29% mom, 21% dad) 11% named a friend 10% said God 8% named a grandmother 7% a brother 5% a teacher or professor
CNN 8/20/07

Focus on Self-esteem
This generation was the center of the self-esteem movement. 9,068 books were written about self-esteem and children during the 80s and 90s (there were 485 in the 70s). The state of California spent millions studying the construct and published a document entitled Toward a State of Self-esteem. Yet they cant escape the angst of adolescence they still feel disconnected, question their existence, purpose and the meaning of life. They want to feel valued and cared about.

Focus on Customer Service

Expect access (24/7) Expect things to work like they are supposed to If they dont that is your problem They want what they have paid for Everything comes with a toll-free number or web address Want Gateway Go Back in classes

Their Idea of Computer Technology

This is what millennials grew up with?

Add the Impact of Gaming

Gaming has impacted children

The game endings changed based on the decisions children made (Role Playing Games [Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Chronotrigger]) impacting locus of control. Involves a complex set of decisionmaking skills. Teaches them to take multiple pieces of data and make decisions quickly. Learning more closely resembles Nintendo, a trial and error approach to solving problems.

We navigated our way through..

They navigated their way through..

Technology
This generation has been plugged in since they were babies. They grew up with educational software and computer games. They think technology should be free. They want and expect services 24/7. They do not live in an 85 world. They function in an international world.

Millennials Want to Learn

With technology With each other Online In their time In their place Doing things that matter (most important)
Source: Achievement and the 21st Century Learner.

Technology In School
Students are increasingly savvy when it comes to technology. In general, students expect faculty to incorporate technology into their teaching and be proficient at it. At the very least, communication via e-mail, access to online resources, PowerPoint presentations, Internet activities, discussion boards and electronic classrooms are expected. Faculty will need to balance the use of technology with their own philosophies of teaching.

Characteristics of Todays Children

76% want to learn more about the world. 28% of high school students access foreign news sources via the Internet. 90% percent of children between ages 5 and 17 use computers. Teens spend more time online using the Internet than watching television.
From: A Nation on the Move, http://www.ed.gov

Characteristics of Todays Children

24% have created their own web pages. 16% of teens are shareholders in the stock market. 33% use Facebook, Twitter, IM, Myspace or other social networking contexts or formats daily. Teens and college students combined spend nearly $400 billion a year. The largest group of new users of the Internet from 2000-2002 were 2-5 year olds.34
From: A Nation on the Move, http://www.ed.gov, and Just Kid Inc. KID Formation Series, July 2008, Meet the Millennial Generation: An Explosive New Consumer Force.

By age 21..
It is estimated that the average child will have:
Spent 10,000 hours playing video games Sent 200,000 emails Spent 20,000 hours watching TV Spent 10,000 hours on their cell phone Spent under 5,000 hours reading

But these are issues of income. Will a child who grows up in a low income household have these same experiences?

The Information Age Mindset

Students have never known life without the computer. It is an assumed part of life. The Internet is a source of research, interactivity, and socializing (they prefer it over TV). Doing is more important than knowing. There is zero tolerance for delays. The infrastructure and the lecture tradition of colleges may not meet the expectations of students raised on the Internet and interactive games.

Cell Phone Technology

They all have cell phones and expect to be in contact 24/7. Not a phone a lifestyle management tool Staying connected is essential. Communication is a safety issue for parents. Communication has become casual for students (IM, email and cell phones.

What About 1st Generation Students?

Not all students will be proficient; first-generation and students from low income or working class families may have less experience. Their experience with technology has been in arcades and minimally in school (poorer districts.) They have not had the exposure to educational uses of technology. We need another placement test remedial keyboarding and technology. Huge digital divide between the haves and the have nots based on income levels (class). Digital divide is appearing in pre-K.

In School
They need to understand why they are doing what they are doing objectives of classroom activities and projects. They want to have input into their educational processes. They want to be involved in meaningful activities, not mundane work. They think it is cool to be smart. They will respond well to programs like learning communities and service learning.

Millennial Expectations
Clear expectations, explicit syllabi, and well structured assignments. They expect detailed instructions and guidelines for completing assignments. They have come from K-12 systems where students are actively involved in learning and classroom activities change often. Teachers are helpers and facilitators of learning.

Satisfaction with Online Courses

70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Veterans Source: Educause 0% Boomers Gen X Millennials 38% 26% 63% 55%

How are Millennials doing in school?

Teachers report that students are doing better academically. The largest gains have been in math and science for ages 9 and 13. Verbal skills show less clear trends. Millennials have corrected a late 80s decline in writing proficiency. Reading scores show modest gains through the 90s.

SAT Scores a Twenty Year Reversal

520 515 510 505 503 500 495
494 509 507 505 504 502 501 501 500 520 519

Verbal Math
509 504 500 497

514 512 511 511

516 514

518

518

508 506 504 503

506

507

508

508

501 501 500 499

505505 505505 505 504

504

503

500

500 500 499

Millennials Taking SAT

490
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 9 1 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

Highest SAT Scores in 35 Years

Ambitions

Most

popular college majors:

Medicine Education/teaching Business and marketing

Engineering Law and politics Computer science

Most

sought after qualities in careers:

Responsibility Independence Creativity

Most

Idealistic and committed co-workers

common job trends :

Multi-taskers Change Careers

Seek security & benefits Stay with company that offers a challenge

Source: Industry Week, March, 1998.

What Do Businesses and Colleges/ Universities Need to Know about Todays College Students and Graduates

Here Come the Girls

Boys Issues in K-12

For Every 100 Girls Who.
Enroll in Kindergarten

Number of Boys
116

Enroll in Ninth Grade

Enroll in Twelfth Grade Are Suspended from K-12

101
98 250

Are Expelled from K-12

Enroll in the gifted and talented program

335
94

Diagnosed with Learning Disability 276

The Boys Project. http://www.boysproject.net/statistics.html

Boys and Their Educational Choices

For Every 100 Girls Who.
Graduate from High School Enroll in College Earn an Associates Degree Earn a Bachelors Degree Earn a Masters Degree Earn a Doctorate

Number of Boys
96 77 67 73 62 92

The Boys Project. http://www.boysproject.net/statistics.html

First Time Freshman Enrollments by Gender 50 Years (numbers in thousands)

1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

(54.8%)

(45.2%)

Males Females

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

00

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

20

20

04

1050

College Graduation Projections (numbers in thousands) (61% of degrees will go to women)

(62.6%)
Assoc. Degree Male Assoc. Degree Female Bach. Degree Male Bach. Degree Female

950 850 750 650 550 450 350 250

(37.4%) (60%) (40%)

6 50 20

7 60 20

8 70 20

9 80 20

0 -1 9 0 20

1 -1 0 1 20

2 -1 1 1 20

3 -1 2 1 20

4 -1 3 1 20

Difference in Values
They have witnessed their baby boomer parents coming home from stressed jobs, exhausted, falling asleep at the dinner table; and dont want that for themselves. They are a generation who is interested in a life with value and meaning they do not aspire to what the boomers aspire to they want something different.

True Multi-taskers
Millennials have lived programmed lives and are already quite capable of learning several jobs simultaneously and performing them admirably. Millennials will change careers many times. Retooling and recycling their skills and talents will become common. To retain them, smart employers will encourage Millennials to try out different careers within the same company.

Need for Services

It is estimated that 3 million Millennials have been diagnosed with ADHD and have been medicated (80% are boys). Within student populations, the number with disabilities has jumped from 3% to 9%.
Many have had individual education plans. Many need testing services (quiet, separate). Need to self-advocate to teachers. Major transition from high school to college.

2004 Research Study

Central Piedmont Community Colleges Center for Applied Research was contracted to do this study by the Workforce Development Board.
Focus Groups were conducted. An Online Survey was administered. Data collected JanuaryMarch 2004 from the University of NC at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and Johnson C. Smith University.

Characteristics They Look for in Teachers

At least 50% said: Enthusiastic about the course/teaching Are fun to be around Provide intellectual challenges Have flexible class policies Are sensitive to your needs/feelings Emphasize preparing for future career

Working in Teams

How do you feel about working in teams?

I like it Have no feelings about it I dont like it 44.7% 25.9% 29.4%

Working in Teams
In the classroom, do you do the following? 1 = never
2 = rarely 3 = sometimes 4 = often
Mean (sd)

Are given team grades on working with others Write papers/do projects with others Study/do research in teams

2.62 (.89) 2.41 (.79) 2.35 (.80)

What Will You Do After Graduating?

Immediately get a job Continue my education Take some time off Marry/start a family Not sure

43% 34% 5% 6% 13%

Career Field

How likely do you think it is that your first job out of college will be in your career field?
Somewhat Likely Not Likely/Not Sure Very Likely 37.4% 20.5% 39.4%

Salary Expectations
Realistically, what do you expect your starting salary will be when you begin working?
$15-20K $21-30K $31-40K $41-50K $50K+ Not sure Millennials 7.7% 29.3% 27.0% 15.9% 7.0% 12.5%

Approximately 65% felt they would earn $40K or less

Importance of Career Components

Elements thought to be very important

Respected on the Job Opportunity for Professional Development Ability to Have an Impact on the World

Importance of Career Components

Items thought to be somewhat important:

Access to Information and Expression of Personal Opinion Having High Job Prestige Working with Inspiring Colleagues Geographic Location of Job Receive Guidance and Direction from Supervisor

Importance of Career Components

Items thought to be somewhat important:
Participating in Company Decisions Independence/Professional Autonomy Using Creativity on the Job Lots of Responsibility Flexible Work Hours Dress Code Appropriate to Work Environment

Importance of Job Benefits

Benefits thought to be very important
Health Insurance Salary Growth Plans like 401K Life Insurance Bonuses Employer-paid Retirement

Benefits thought to be unimportant

Stock Options Profit Sharing

Jobs in Lifetime
How many jobs do you think you will hold in your lifetime? 1-3 35.7% 4-6 41.5% 7-10 16.5% Over 10 6.2% 64% expect to have 4 or more jobs

Future Odds
The following % felt it was very likely that they would someday:
Work for themselves/own business Have lifestyle they grew up with 21% 63%

79% felt a two income household would be somewhat to very important in reaching their lifestyle goals?

Quality of Life?

Rank order of items that contribute to a good quality of life

(% ranking item in top 3 on a scale of 1-8)

Having a secure future for my family Time to enjoy family/children Having family/children Having a great job Having good friends Having plenty of money Having plenty of free time

71.5% 68.7% 63.2% 60.4% 55.2% 45.5% 40.2%

Your Generation in the Future

Someday, your generation will be raising kids, running corporations and occupying high political office. When that day comes, which areas of American life will be better, the same or worse than today because of your generation?
3 = better 2 = same 1 = worse

Areas they felt they would do better:

Areas they felt they would do about the same:

Economy Schools Arts/Culture Foreign Affairs

Technology Race Relations

Areas they felt they couldnt improve on:

Government Family Life Religion Crime/Public Order

Will We Have a Workforce Shortage?

Will the Boomers retire in droves? Could see a 4-10 million worker shortage by 2010. We dont have enough well-prepared young workers. Greatest needs in fields with advanced education such as nursing and education. Also industries with mostly older workers such as the oil and gas industry.

Older Generations Make Assumptions That younger generations will measure success just as we have. Young worker must pay their dues and follow the same paths to success as previous generations. The company ladder will remain intact. Workers go where the jobs are.
Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

What Millennials Want

Ability to work whenever and wherever they want. Variation on the job Continual feedback from supervisors Opportunities to learn, retool and reinvent themselves Challenge, new problems to solve To be in charge of their lives and future
Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

Millennials Were Asked.

What are the top five things that make you respect a company?

Top Five
1. Give back to their community. 2. Have fair labor practices. 3. Have products and services that do what they promise to do. 4. Having products and services that truly help people in need. 5. Being green or eco-friendly.
(Just Kid Inc. KID Formation Series, July 2008, Meet the Millennial Generation: An Explosive New Consumer Force.)

What They Are Not Interested In

Time-honored traditions Doing things the way they have always been done Paying their dues How their managers got to where they are (rank) A work ethic that requires a 10 hour day Unquestioning loyalty to a company
Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

Change in Values

Two youngest generations:

Define success differently Their time is equal in value to money Will pursue other rewards for their work The company/corporate ladder has become irrelevant View their predecessors experience as a warning, not a road map Dont value the rules of management, motivation and reward

Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

Skepticism
The two younger generations:
Have been given ample reason to question authority Dont believe their leaders tell the truth Question the motives and truthfulness of institutions across the board Invest their loyalty and trust in individuals and therefore, the right boss is critical (otherwise they change jobs, #1 reason they quit)
Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

What Will It Take for All Generations to Work Well Together

A new understanding of what employees want from their jobs, bosses and workplace experience A new understanding of loyalty and how to develop it (not through pay, promotions and benefits) A new definition of self young employees define themselves by what they do outside the job, not what they do for a living
Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

What Will It Take

New behavior from leaders who realize younger workers enter the workforce seeking self-fulfillment and arent interested in paying their dues for an unspecified amount of time for a vague reward Because young people are doing everything later staying in school, living at home, getting married, having kids this impacts their commitment to work
Marston, Cam, Motivating the Whats In It for Me Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide and Increasing Profits, 2007

Reasons US Workers Change Jobs

In 2006, 21% of US workers made voluntary job changes for the following reasons: Growth and earnings potential (30%) Time and flexibility (23%) Financial compensation (22%) Culture and work environment (22%) Benefits (12%) Supervisor relationship (10%) Travel and development (9%) Management climate (9%)
Benefit News

Changing Workforce
Workers are demanding the ability to balance their work and personal responsibilities. Workers are not afraid of changing jobs. The idea that the best way to grow financially and otherwise is to stay with one employer has been eroding to the point of extinction. Younger workers and those earning $15,000 or less were the most likely to change jobs. The cost of turnovers range from $7,000 for hourly employees to $30,000 for mid-level managers and $80,000 for technical or senior level management (Center for Workforce Learning).
Charlotte Biz, March 2007

Some are already in the workforce. What are they saying?

The technology is too slow. Just because Im young doesnt mean I should be given low pay and a poor work schedule. I expect to be treated fairly. We are inheriting a mess in the workforce who got us there? My dad worked 60 hours a week and then lost his pension no way Im doing that. I can get my work done in 40 hours sorry if you cant.
Charlotte Observer, Sunday, March 5, 2006.

How They Will Push Us

More independence in the workforce Consumer-based fairness Better technology Enhanced professional development Get rid of thats the way weve always done it Have more life balance Re-establish priorities

What We Know
Times are changing in business and society So leadership must change The younger generations are working in a different economy and business world They have different values and goals THEY WILL NEVER BE LIKE US!

What can managers do?

1. Mentor their employees
About how the company runs, what makes people of different generations work well together. Teach people skills not just business processes. Great leaders can motivate all people by balancing processes and peoples needs for the good of the company

Messages that Motivate

Veterans
Your experience is respected here What has and hasnt worked in the past is relevant Perseverance is valued

Boomers
You are important to our success Your contribution is unique and important We need you

Messages that Motivate

Gen Xers
Do it your way There arent a lot of rules here Were not very corporate

Millennials
You will work with other bright, creative people You can help turn this company around You can be a hero here We value independent workers Your boss will help you succeed

2. Communicate with employees

Encourage them to develop trust with others and empower people to do their jobs. Ask for input rather than telling them what to do. Open communication reduces resistance.

3. Value their values

Want work-life balance. They value family and friends and want to work their eight hour day and go home. Older workers think long hours show your loyalty and productivity. Younger workers often get things done faster. They value efficiency and effectiveness and doing things faster.

4. Focus on Retention
People leave for several reasons: older workers retire but younger workers often leave feeling unvalued. Have strategies to retain both groups. Older generations like monetary rewards, younger generations like time off work.

So How Do We Work With Them?

Because they have grown up in a different world, never assume that they know certain things like:
You dont want to talk to their mother when they are having problems. You dont get points for showing up or an A for effort. The definition of plagiarism and cheating. Its not appropriate to call the professor at home after 9pm. They cant use IM language in papers. Its not okay to email the professor 10 times a day. That when they email you at 3am, youre not sitting on the other end waiting to respond to them. The business office (and most others) close at 5pm.

Some Major Issues Worth Addressing

Some of them have been performing below grade level all their lives and they may not know it (age of social promotion). You may be the first strict grader they have encountered (will discourage them). Many are not very hardy. Will quit or drop out because its hard. They are very good consumers and will figure out a way to stay under the radar. They are not good planners and will do everything late if allowed.

What Should Institutions Do (In the Classroom)?

Develop policies and practices around appropriate communication (by department). Give them electronic access to as much as is philosophically possible. Draw a line on negotiations. Give them definitions, boundaries and rules.

What Should Institutions Do?

Stop existing in an 8-5 world. Establish prerequisites for reading and writing intensive courses. Force them to take developmental courses the first semester (dont set them up to fail). Stop letting them register late, hand in late work and procrastinate.

What Should Institutions Do?

Dont let them take online courses if they are not tech savvy and dont possess the motivation to complete. Train all faculty to detect and work with low performing students (especially in gate keeper courses).

What Should Institutions Do?

Look into what is known about learning. Try to actively engage them. Engage them in group-oriented activities
Service learning Study groups Supplemental instruction Learning communities

What Should Institutions Do?

Create alterative ways for the low-tech students to come up to speed.
Basic keyboarding skills. Special workshops or lab sessions on the basics. Help them master software that will do work for them. Get access to computers (refurbished, community projects, grants, etc.)

One Final Word

In case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation, it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation. (Roger Allen)

In 2008 In Schools Across America

The first full class of a new generation will showed up for kindergarten.

Who Are They?

A new Silent Generation referred to as Generation Z, Generation Alpha or the Homeland Generation. Starts mid-2000s until about 2017-2020 and will be considered an artist generation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss_and_Howe

Generation Z
Will be raised on technology, they will not be scared of anything, they will be open to new ideas. They will be into truth and loyalty and they will not be not afraid to voice their opinion. They will be flexible and open to change. They will be fearless and fun. They will be the new hope for our own future. Their great-grandparents belong mostly to the Silent Generation and the Baby boomers form the core of their grandparents. Their parents are seen as being roughly evenly divided between Generation X and Generation Y.
http://www.generationzbaby.com/generation-z.html

For a copy of this presentation: http//www.cpcc.edu/millennial Click on: workshops and presentations Contact: terri.manning@cpcc.edu