An overview of the working generations

Maturists Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y Generation Z

Characteristics
(pre-1945) (1945-1960) (1961-1980) (1981-1995) (Born after 1995)

Second World War Cold war End of Cold War 9/11 terrorist attacks Economic downturn
Rationing Post-War boom Fall of Berlin Wall PlayStation Global warming
Fixed-gender roles ‘‘Swinging Sixties’’ Reagan / Gorbachev Social media Global focus
Rock ‘n’ Roll Apollo Moon landings Thatcherism Invasion of Iraq Smart devices
Formative Nuclear families Youth culture Live Aid Reality TV Energy crisis
experiences Defined gender roles - Woodstock Introduction of first PC Google Earth Arab Spring
particularly for women Family-orientated Early mobile technology Glastonbury Produce own media
Rise of the teenager Latch-key kids: Cloud computing
rising levels of divorce Wiki-leaks

Aspiration Home ownership Job security Work-life balance Freedom and flexibility Security and stability

Attitude toward ‘‘Technoholics’’ - entirely

Largely disengaged Early information Digital Immigrants dependent on IT : limited
Digital Natives
technology technology (IT) adaptors grasp of alternatives

Career multitaskers - will

Attitude toward Early ‘‘portfolio’’ careers -
Organisational - careers are Digital entrepreneurs - work move seamlessly between
Jobs are for life loyal to profession, not
career defined by employers necessarily to employer
‘‘with’’ organisations not ‘‘for’’ organisations and ‘‘pop-up’’
businesses

Google glass, graphene,

Signature nano-computing, 3-D
Automobile Television Personal Computer Tablet / Smart Phone
product printing, driverless cars

Communication Hand-held (or integrated

Formal letter Telephone Email and text message Text or social media into clothing)
media communication devices

Communication Face-to-face ideally, but

Face-to-face Text messaging or email Instant messaging Facetime
preference telephone or email if required

16-17 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+

1.3% 11.7% 23.7% 35% 28% 3.9%

Percentage of the UK workforce (by age group)*

*Source - ONS Table A05: Labour market by age group: People by economic activity and age (February 2017)
Source - Barclays Wealth: Talking about my generation: Exploring the benefits engagement challenge (September 2013)
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