2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey
Gen Zs and millennials seek more purpose, career/learning development, and ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ within their job and organisation
Belgian Gen Zs and millennials want to have a sense of purpose in their work, as well as opportunities for career development and continuous learning. In line with their eagerness to learn, they prefer training to fully harness the benefits and value of generative AI. While leaders should better address mental health and well-being to bridge the gap with Gen Z and millennial expectations, companies are doing well in terms of working hours and location flexibility.
Deloitte’s 13th annual Gen Z and Millennial Survey explores how Gen Zs (1995-2004) and millennials (1983-1994) are living and working with purpose in a transforming world and how organisations can align with their values. While a good work-life balance remains crucial, other priorities such as purpose, learning and development (L&D), career perspective, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are becoming noticeably more significant. This year’s survey also uncovers surprising attitudes toward GenAI.
Around 50% are still not using GenAI in the workplace, resulting in only 27% of Gen Zs and 18% of millennials having a good understanding of this technology. Organisations play an important role in fostering GenAI trust and fluency, as many Gen Zs and millennials don’t feel comfortable working it, don’t perceive it as useful, and are concerned about the sufficiency of the training provided by their employer.
When choosing an employer, both Gen Zs and millennials attach great importance to purpose, but having career opportunities is relatively more important to millennials. These generations seem to be highly satisfied in the first mentioned need, but only moderately satisfied with opportunities for learning, development, and mentoring in their jobs, indicating space for improvement.
This year’s numbers around stress and anxiety remains concerning for both generations. At work, leadership support is crucial when managing anxiety and stress, yet only 30-35% of Gen Zs and millennials indicate that their employer or leaders adequately prioritise well-being. This highlights the need for organisations to openly discuss and support mental health at all levels.
Flexible work arrangements are another factor that influence overall job contentment. In Belgium, 58% of Gen Zs and 51% of millennials are satisfied with the flexibility to work WHERE they want, while 60% of Gen Zs and 58% of millennials express satisfaction with the flexibility to work WHEN they want. However, Belgian organisations are still in the early stages when it comes to exploring the WHAT of flexible work options.
These key findings underscore the importance of human sustainability in shaping the future of work. By focusing on purpose, L&D, DEI, and mental health, organisations can ensure their long-term success, while contributing positively to the lives and well-being of their workforce.
