Now that we need them, where have all the millennials gone?
For one thing, many have reached their big 4-0 birthday.
Along the way, they have survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks, two economic downturns, the Great Recession, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — and COVID.
Add to that climate change, political polarization, massive student debt, and general social unrest.
Millennials, who now range from 25 to 40, continue to be skeptical of institutions, including their employers, whom they suspect do not have their best interest in mind.
Realizing that job security is a thing of the past due to economic upheavals, technological change, and stiff competition, they are in a “what’s in it for me"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b64ff35-2d21-481e-88ae-8562dded85bd&cid=1ffe15d6-eb53-11e9-b4d2-06948452ae1a'; cnx.cmd.push( function() { cnx( { playerId: "8b64ff35-2d21-481e-88ae-8562dded85bd" } ).render( "11982501ceb44352bd1e95848c612274" ); } );
Their average job length is two years and nine months. That’s it.
In other words, “If I’m not growing, learning and earning to my potential, then I’m out of here.”
Yet, they continue to be undeterred, perhaps because they were raised by parents who awarded a trophy for participation rather than winning. Or they were shielded from many of society’s vexing issues by parents who could afford to protect them.
True or not, that was the all-too-common putdown.
Don’t look now, but millennials are making their presence known, and making big changes to the workplace — office and home — at the same time.
Millennials now make up 35% of the current workforce, and by 2025, they will comprise 75% of all U.S. employees, more than doubling in just four years.
Now that “the Great Resignation” is upon us and shows no signs of going away, we have an unprecedented number of open jobs that employers simply cannot fill, at all levels, entry and otherwise.
All those “HIRING ALL POSITIONS” signs don’t seem to be doing much good. Just last month, another 4.4 million Americans resigned, nearly 3% of the nation’s workforce.
Think back about what is important to millennials. Perhaps their once-seemingly outrageous demands have become the new normal, at least for the foreseeable future.
If that’s true, maybe we should be more attentive to what they’re saying about the traditional workplace:
- “I only work when I feel productive, so don’t expect me to work 8 to 5. That doesn’t work for me.”
- “Come to the office every day? Not a chance. Why should I get dressed up to meet your silly dress code and get stuck in commuter traffic when I do my best work at home?”
- “I want to work at a company where management will listen to my ideas.”
- “I need to have respect for the management and the ethics of the company where I work.”
- “I need to be proud of the product that I am helping develop and market.”
- “Is that really too much to ask?”
Heard enough? Wait, he/she isn’t finished:
- “Until I find the right job, I can live off couch surfing and Ramen noodles for a long time.”
- “I’m very willing to quit this job with little notice if I feel I have been wronged, and I am willing to wait to take another job.”
- “If I am not learning and growing, with a bright future, then why am I working at this company?”
- “How is this job making me a better, more valuable employee and person?”
- “This job can’t be all me giving and no take.”
- “I need to feel like I am gaining something every day.”
- And so on…
In my view, employers would be wise to not dismiss their demands, large and small.
Think of it: I bet you care about how your work s your family life with important flexibility for work from home and benefits.
I bet you care about working somewhere you can be proud of, and to be motivated by management and learning new skills. I bet you want to make sure you’re more valuable in the open job market.
Hence, we have the big “Reshuffle” and “Great Resignation” of 2021.
Savvy employers are doing their best to make meaningful changes in their hiring and workplace policies, both at the office and at home.
Make sure you are, too.
Blair is co-founder of Manpower Staffing and author of “Job Won.” [email protected]
