The wired, Facebook-loving demographic known as Generation Y has been polled on their chief career concerns and it turns out the internet generation worries about the same things as most employees: benefits and salary.
Conducted on behalf of Yahoo! Hotjobs and Robert Half International, the survey focused on the “Millennials” who represent the eldest of the Gen Y demographic, those already into a career or about to start one. When asked about their top career concern for the future, 33% of respondents indicated salary and benefits, with 26% saying job stability and 23% career satisfaction.
Reesa Staten, senior vice-president for Robert Half International says that despite Gen Y’s reputation for entitlement and short attention spans, their concerns generally mirror those of their Gen X predecessors.
“The Gen Y professionals we surveyed were focused on practical concerns, such as saving enough money for retirement and being able to balance work and family obligations,” says Staten. “These basic quality-of-life needs are common among all demographics in the workplace.”
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The survey should provide a key resource to firms looking to hire young workers. Staten explains that respondents placed the most emphasis on money, benefits, and professional growth.
“Gen Y workers want the best healthcare and retirement benefits employers can provide as well as defined career paths,” she says. “To recruit these professionals, firms should make these programs easy to understand, promote them in detail on the company website and highlight them during the interview process.”
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