A recent report from Cornerstone, in collaboration with Lighthouse Research, highlights a significant trend among UK employees, particularly Millennials, who are increasingly dissatisfied with their employers.
The Workforce Readiness report reveals that nearly half (45%) of employees feel they lack the support and resources needed to adapt to the evolving work environment.
The report underscores a stark generational divide in workplace sentiment. Millennials, in particular, are 20 percent less likely than Gen Z employees to feel they receive adequate training.
This dissatisfaction extends beyond training, as 69 percent of Millennials believe their employers do not support their growth and development, compared to less than half (47%) of Gen Z employees.
Moreover, 60 percent of Millennials feel out of the loop when their companies change priorities, a figure that is double that of Gen Z. Despite these feelings of disconnection, Millennials report having the most frequent interactions with their managers, with 42 percent having spoken to their manager in the past three months.
In contrast, Baby Boomers are three times more likely than Millennials and Gen Z to report no discussions about their work skills with their managers in the past year.
Boomers Content, Millennials Restless
The study also highlights a generational divide in job satisfaction and future planning. While 93 percent of Gen Z and 80 percent of Millennials consider the future in their job roles, only 44 percent of Baby Boomers do the same. Despite this, Boomers are the least likely to consider quitting their jobs, exhibiting higher contentment levels in their current roles.
Conversely, Millennials are the most likely to leave their jobs within the next 3-6 months, with 59 percent contemplating a job change, compared to 50 percent of Gen Z and 43 percent of Gen X.
Addressing the Needs of Younger Workers
This restlessness among younger workers might be driven by higher expectations for developmental opportunities and career advancement. To counteract this trend, employers must offer robust training and growth opportunities. Innovative learning methods, such as AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), could play a crucial role in engaging employees.
Future Learning Technologies
The report indicates a strong interest in these new learning technologies across generations:
- 60 percent of Baby Boomers are interested in AI or VR-enhanced learning.
- 67 percent of Millennials are eager to use AI or VR for learning purposes, the highest among all generations.
- Gen X shows the most interest in AI-enabled learning, 33 percent higher than Millennials.
As companies navigate these generational differences, leveraging advanced technologies and providing tailored support could be key to retaining talent and fostering a motivated, future-ready workforce.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
