ResumeTemplates.com, a leading platform for professional resume templates and examples, has released a new survey highlighting significant concerns among hiring managers regarding the employability of young Gen Z workers. Conducted in July 2024, the survey gathered insights from 1,000 U.S. hiring managers to gauge perceptions about the latest entrants into the workforce.
1. Perceptions of Gen Z Employability
- 24% View Gen Z as “Unemployable”: Hiring managers expressed concerns about the lack of essential workplace skills among Gen Z workers (ages 18-23). Commonly cited deficiencies include a perceived lack of work ethic, accountability, and reliability.
- Generational Criticism: Julia Toothacre, Chief Career Strategist at ResumeTemplates.com, notes that criticism of younger generations is a recurring theme, citing past negative perceptions of Millennials as lazy and entitled.
2. Employment Opportunities and Compensation
- Part-Time and Contract Roles: 56% of employers are offering part-time roles to young Gen Z workers. Additionally, 47% are providing contract work, 45% paid internships, and 17% unpaid internships.
- Lower Pay for Gen Z: 38% of hiring managers reported that Gen Z workers at their companies are paid less than older employees for similar roles. Nearly half of these respondents believe that the current job market allows for such disparities in pay.
3. Employer Willingness to Hire Gen Z
- Limited Full-Time Opportunities: 17% of hiring managers indicated that their employers are not very (15%) or not at all willing (2%) to offer full-time positions to young Gen Z workers.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted in July 2024 and involved 1,000 U.S. hiring managers. Respondents were required to be actively involved in their employer’s hiring process, be at least 25 years old, employed for wages at a company with 11 or more employees, and earning a minimum annual household income of $50,000. Eligible respondents included roles such as owners, CEOs, C-level executives, middle management, and HR managers.
The survey highlights a growing concern among hiring managers about the readiness of young Gen Z workers for the workforce. While generational criticism is not new, the data underscores the need for enhanced skill development and workplace readiness programs to address perceived deficiencies.
