Transcript Document

The Effects of the Millennial
Generation on Higher
Education and the Workforce
Central Piedmont Community College
Center for Research Services
Bobbie Fields
Terri Manning
CCPRO/NCAIR/SCAIR February 2004
A Study Funded by the Workforce Development Board
Some Say More Numerous…
As the Baby Boomers begin to swell to the
ranks of 50 something’s, look for a bulge at
the other end of the spectrum -The
Millennials.
The Millennials are almost as large as the
baby boom -some say larger- depending on
how you measure it.
Demographers vary on exactly when the
millennial cohort begins and ends.
The Echo Boom/Millennials…
 Much is expected of the children born between
1982 and 2000, a cohort variously called :
Echo Boom
Generation Y
Millennials
Net Generation
Demographic Explanations
for the ‘Echo Boom’
The Baby Boomers had a “bounty” of babies…
-Choosing to become older parents in the 1980s
Gen X moms reverted back to the earlier birth-age norm
The ‘echo boom’ can be compared to the original baby
boom in that most generations were having babies
The baby boom is attributed to economic and military
crises that caused GI’s to delay having their babies,
whereas a cultural upheaval caused the Boomers to
delay having their (Millennial) babies
Demographic Explanations (cont.)
• In 1989 29 percent of the 4. 4 million live
births were to women aged 30 and older.
• Birth rates among some age groups
continued rising after baby boomlet peaked in
1990
• From 1981 to 1997 the fertility rate of women
aged 45-49 rose by 88%.
Demographic Trends
Millennials have older parents - average age of
mothers at birth at an all time high of 27 in 1997
Smaller families
More firstborns - only children will comprise about
10% of population
More parental education – 1 in 4 has at least one
parent with a college degree
Kids born in the late 90s are the first in American
history whose mothers are better educated than
their fathers by a small margin
Demographic Trends
Diversity
Millennials have become the most racially and
ethnically diverse generation in US History.
Nearly 35% of Millennials are nonwhite or
Latino.
Latinos of all backgrounds are the largest
minority group (16%) followed by blacks (14%)
making this the first generation in US history in
which blacks are no longer the largest of all
racial and ethnic minorities.
Ethnically Diverse
70
64.6
White
Black
Amer Ind
Asian
Hispanic
60
50
40
30
20
10
14.9
15.2
0.9
4.2
0
Shown as a percent of the cohort
Safety Issues
The Safest Generation
• This generation was buckled up in car
seats, wore bike helmets, elbow and
knee pads when skating and were the
inspiration for “Baby of Board” signs
The Well-Being of U.S. Teens
• Mortality Rate for US teens aged 15-19
declined from 1960 to 1997
-Teens are having fewer accidents than
Boomers
Generations
Each
generation
approaches life
stages in
different ways
Each
generation is
not a linear
extension of
the one before
Each
generation is
shaped by the
events and
culture into
which it is born
When Generations Collide…
• Suggests that a fundamental challenge that American businesses
face is the generational collision, leading to hiring challenges,
skyrocketing turnover rates, communication “conundrums”,
“plummeting morale” caused by generational conflicts in the
workplace.
• For Example- Generational issues influence how we would want to
handle company policies and procedures. Unless all the
generations are included in the discussion, some people may be
treated unfairly. It’s important to know that you’re being
responsive and fair to everyone’s needs.
• Today there are four distinct generations
glaring at one another from across the conference
table, and the potential for conflict and
confusion has never been greater.
The Veterans 1922-1943
Core Values
Important Events
Dedication
Lindbergh Completes First
Hard Work
Transatlantic Flight
Conformity
Stock Market Crashes
Law and Order
Depression
Patience
The New Deal
Delayed Reward
Social Security
Duty Before Pleasure
Pearl Harbor
Adherence to Rules
FDR Dies
Honor
Korean War
Cultural Memorabilia
Kewpie Dolls, Mickey Mouse, Flash Gordon, Radio, Wheaties,
Tarzan, Jukeboxes, Blondie, The Lone Ranger, McCarthy
The Baby Boomers 1943-1960
Core Values
Optimism
Team Orientation
Personal Gratification
Health and Wellness
Personal Growth
Youth
Work
Involvement
Important Events
Rosa Parks
First Nuclear Power Plant
The Civil Rights Act
Cuban Missile Crisis
John Glen
Martin Luther King Leads March on
Washington, D.C.
President John Kennedy Assassinated
National Organization for Women Founded
Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy
Assassinated
Cultural Memorabilia
“The Ed Sullivan Show”, Fallout Shelters, Poodle Skirts and Pop
Beads, Slinkies, TV Dinners, Hula Hoops,The Peace Sign, “Laugh In”
The Gen Xers 1960-1982
Core Values
Dedication
Hard Work
Conformity
Law and Order
Patience
Delayed reward
Duty before pleasure
Adherence to rules
Honor
Important Events
Women’s Liberation Protests
Watergate Scandal
Energy Crisis Begins
Tandy and Apple Market PCs
Mass Suicide in Jonestown
Three Mile Island
US Corporations begin Massive Layoffs
Iran Hostage Crisis
John Lennon Shot and Killed
Ronald Reagan Inaugurated
Challenger Disaster
Exxon Valdez Oil Tanker Spill
Rodney King Beatings Videotaped
Cultural Memorabilia
“The Brady Bunch”, Pet Rocks, Platform Shoes, “The
Simpsons”, “Dynasty”, ET, Cabbage Patch Dolls
Millennials-What Are The Defining
Moments?
In the Virginia statewide poll of 655 members of Class 2000, events
that made the biggest impact or impression on the class of 2000
(Millennials):
Columbine
War in Kosovo
Oklahoma City Bombing
Princess Diana’s Death
Clinton Impeachment Trial
OJ Simpson Trial
Rodney King Riots
Lewinsky Scandal
Fall of Berlin Wall
McGuire-Sosa Homer Derby
Important Economic Events
 The Millennial childhood coincides with the
most “monumental” financial boom in history
- Unemployment and inflation rates fell to historical
lows not seen since the early 1960’s
 Millennials have the best-educated moms in
US history
 Millennials wish their parents were not so
stressed out about work
Buying Power
Their combined disposable income will
be …
$302 Billion
Politics
The election crisis of 2000 produced strong feelings
about the need for political reform:
Believe there should be a uniform and
consistent method to count votes
They are confident and civic minded and will
use their confidence to influence society in
largely positive ways
Concerned with the political
leadership
Agreed that their vote matters
Millennials will vote more
Millennials Want to Learn
With technology
With each other
Online
In their time
In their place
Doing things that
matter
Source: Achievement and the 21st Century Learner
Teen Views of School
60
51
50
Percent
40
40
30
47
41
36
35
31
28
39
29
24
1983
1990
1995
2000
21
20
10
0
School work is
meaningful
Courses are
interesting
Source: The Condition of Education 2002, National Center for Education Statistics
School will be
important in later life
How are Millennials doing in
school?
• Teachers report that students are
doing better academically
• The largest gains have been in math
and science for ages 9 and 13
• Millennials have corrected a late 80s
decline in writing proficiency
• Reading scores show modest gains
through the 90s
Parental Care in the Millennial era
• Today’s typical family is spending
more not less time with kids
• Smaller families means more time
with each child
• Fathers are spending more time with
children
• Less housework is being done
• There is a strong connection between
the social lives of parents and kids
Values
80%
96%
Think it is cool
to be smart
Get along with
their parents
75%
Share their parents
values
Source: Millennials Rising: the Next Great Generation
Multiculturalism
• Diversity prevails: Millennial
kids are used to a wide range
of global viewpoints
• Tolerant of cohabitation, single
parenting and extended
families; different sexual
orientations
• Attitudes reflect an interest in and acceptance of diversity in
all areas of life in the private realm and public arena
• Belief the possibility exists for a black president in the next 20
years (50% of students in 2001 Lifestyle and Media Monitor)
and 58 percent think there will be a female president
Here’s What Millennials See in the
Adult World
• Lifestyle fragmentation- they see a lot of splintering in
politics, the media, sports, and fashions. They are
interested in “niche” groups that focus on a race, sex,
religion, ideology, occupation, or hobby.
• Geographic fragmentation- “edge cities”, springing up
around new work and shopping areas.
• Racial and ethnic fragmentation-multi-culturalism has
entirely displaced assimilation as a national goal. (p105)
They are observing schools phasing out integration
plans. School integration has begun to reverse.
• Income fragmentation- Aware of the growing gap
between rich and poor. The gap between those living in
struggling families and those living in prospering families
has widened. Growing income inequality is reflected in
rich and poor school districts.
Millennials In the Workplace
Diversity: They will demand and expect that the
workforce be diverse and will be attracted to
companies that genuinely attract diverse groups of
people from all over the world.
They will not limit diversity to just race, ethnicity, or
even gender, but will define and expand the meaning
of diversity by “thinking style, educational
background, geographic location, generation,
lifestyle, avocation, sexual orientation, work
experience and more”.
Ambitions
 Most
•
•
•
popular college majors:
Medicine
Education/teaching
Business and marketing
•
•
•
Engineering
Law and politics
Computer science
 Most
sought after qualities in
careers:
•
•
•
Responsibility
Independence
Creativity
 Most
•
•
Source: Industry Week, March, 1998
•
Idealistic and
committed co-workers
common job trends :
Multi-taskers
Change Careers
•
•
Seek security & benefits
Stay with company that
offers a challenge
True Multi-taskers
• Millennials have lived programmed lives
that make them true multi-taskers. They
are already quite capable of learning
several jobs simultaneously and performing
them admirably.
• “Futurists” predict that Millennials will change careers as
many as ten times. That means retooling, recycling
their skills and talents. Smart employers will recognize
this and try to encourage Millennials to try out different
careers within the same company.
• With the right kind of challenge, opportunity, security,
and benefit package, Millennials are likely to stay with
the company.
Work Atmosphere
• Millennials expect to work and have fun at the same
time…they expect work to be fun
• They have witnessed their baby boom
parents coming home from stressed
jobs, exhausted, falling asleep at the
dinner table and don’t want that for themselves
• Employers need to instill a sense of play and fun in
the work atmosphere. It helps morale and employees
get to know each other better
Flexible Schedules
• Millennials are the most
scheduled generation ever
and successful employers will
have to find ways to offer
flexible scheduling
• Employers have learned from the booming service
sector, where Millennials are working while in school,
that flex scheduling is needed if you want to retain
Millennials and get them to show up for work
Challenging Millennials
• In the eyes of the Millennials, the opportunity to
pursue parallel careers might be the characteristic
that attracts them to the company.
• Changing jobs is something that Millennials will see
as a natural process and part of their daily schedules.
They might work in accounting 3 days a week and
marketing the other 2.
• The challenge in retaining them will be in
challenging them and providing learning, direction,
stimulation and the ability to be involved.
Baby Boomer Parents Have Been
Their Biggest Cheerleaders
• Millennials expect and
need praise
• Will mistake silence for
disapproval
• Millennials expect
feedback
Orienting Millennials
• It needs to be communicated
to them how their work fits into
the future scheme of the
company.
• Training Millennials with their
multitasking skills and
technological savvy will push
training to new levels of
technology and fun at the same
time.
• Millennials will respond well to
experiential learning where
they are allowed to come up
with their own solutions.
Highlights
 Possible contributions to the
economy and society
 The echo boom is 80 million
people strong, displays a strong
work ethic, and is
technologically savvy
 Millennials will create a new
culture of work, characterized
by more independence in the
work force
 Many of them will become
entrepreneurs
2004 Research Study
• Central Piedmont Community College’s Center
for Research Services was contracted to do this
study by the Workforce Development Board.
• Student Populations Selected (N=998 so far)
– UNC-Charlotte (N=581)
– Central Piedmont Community College (N=385)
– Johnson C. Smith University (data being collected
now)
– Data Collected During January/February 2004
– Focus Groups Were Conducted
– An Online Survey Was Administered
– Results Presented are Preliminary
Demographics of Sample
•
•
•
•
•
•
White (n=725)
Black/African American (n=184)
Hispanic/Latino (n=45)
Asian/Pacific Islander (n=60)
Native American/Alaskan (n=23)
Other (n=56)
Age of Parents
• Father Mean = 49.8 Range 36-75
50% were over 50
• Mother Mean = 47.4 Range 35-74
34% were over 50
What Do You Look For in Faculty
Percent Who Agree
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Enthusiastic About the Course/Teaching
Are Fun To Be Around
Provide Intellectual Challenges
Have Flexible Class Policies
Are Sensitive to Your Needs/Feelings
Emphasize Preparing for Future Career
Emphasize Living up to Moral Principles
Are Likely to Talk About Politics
Are Strict/Hard Graders
88.0%
81.4%
67.9%
63.0%
62.1%
56.3%
39.3%
14.3%
5.5%
Working in Teams
• How do you feel about working in
teams?
– I like it
– Have no feelings about it
– I don’t like it
43.8%
26.0%
30.2%
Working in Teams
• In the classroom, do you do the
following? 1 = never
2 = rarely
3 = sometimes
4 = often
Study/do research in teams
Write papers/do projects with others
Are given “team grades” on working
with others
Mean (sd)
2.65 (.80)
2.62 (.79)
2.39 (.89)
Comparing Yourself to People
Your Parents Age…..
• When your generation is your parents’
age, will you take more (3), about the
same (2) or less interest (1) in:
(mean)
– New Technology
– Voting and Government
– Reading and the Arts
2.64
2.25
2.18
Careers They Plan to Pursue
(most selected of 27 listed)
49
Engineering
52
Computer/Technology
62
Law
106
Teaching
108
Nursing
112
Business/Marketing
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Career Field
• How likely do you think it is that your
first job out of college will be in your
career field?
– Very Likely
– Somewhat Likely
– Not Likely
43.7%
36.0%
13.3%
Salary Expectations
• Realistically, what do you expect your
starting salary will be when you begin
working?
– $15-20K
– $21-30K
– $31-40K
– $41-50K
– $50K+
– Not sure
6.8%
31.1%
26.2%
16.3%
8.1%
11.0%
Importance of Career Components
• How important are the following components to
your career?
1 = not important
2 = somewhat important
3 = very important
Being Respected on the Job
Opportunity for Prof. Development
Ability to Have an Impact on the World
Access to Information and Expression of
Personal Opinion
Working with Inspiring Colleagues
mean (sd)
2.85 (.39)
2.76 (.47)
2.56 (.60)
2.49 (.61)
2.40 (.64)
Importance of Career Components
• How important are the following components to your
career?
1 = not important
2 = somewhat important
3 = very important
mean (sd)
Having High Job Prestige
2.39 (.67)
Geographic Location of Job
2.39 (.65)
Independence/Professional Autonomy
2.37 (.57)
Participating in Company Decisions
2.37 (.62)
Receive Guidance and Direction from Supervisor 2.36 (.66)
Importance of Career Components
• How important are the following components to your
career?
1 = not important
2 = somewhat important
3 = very important
mean (sd)
Using Creativity on the Job
Lots of Responsibility
Flexible Work Hours
Dress Code Appropriate to Work Environment
2.36
2.22
2.22
2.04
(.67)
(.56(
(.57)
(.72)
Importance of Job Benefits
• How important are the following benefits?
1 = not important
2 = somewhat important
3 = very important
Health Insurance
Salary Growth
Plans like 401K
Life Insurance
Bonuses
Employer-paid Retirement
Stock Options
Profit Sharing
mean (sd)
2.89 (.34)
2.89 (.35)
2.74 (.50)
2.74 (.50)
2.65 (.52)
2.55 (.56)
2.21 (.70)
2.12 (.61)
Jobs in Lifetime
• How many jobs do you think you will
hold in your lifetime?
– 1-3
– 4-6
– 7-10
– Over 10
32.6%
42.2%
17%
8.2%
Worry
• How much do you worry about:
1 = not at all
2 = occasionally
3 = frequently
mean (sd)
Future Plans
Finding a Job to Fulfill your Goals
and Aspirations
Money to Travel/for Hobbies
Life After College
Financial Debt
2.49 (.59)
2.36
2.37
2.35
2.24
(.68)
(.69)
(.66)
(.75)
Worry
• How much do you worry about:
1 = not at all
2 = occasionally
3 = frequently
mean (sd)
Home Ownership
Paying Monthly Bills
Transitioning to Life After College
Relationships After College
Finding a Job in Your Field
Being Penalized for No Job Experience
2.23
2.18
2.03
2.03
2.01
1.95
(.72)
(.74)
(.74)
(.74)
(.78)
(.80)
Future Odds
• How likely is it that someday you will:
Work for yourself/own business
Have lifestyle you grew up with
(mode)
Somewhat Likely (37%)
Very Likely (61%)
• How important will a two income household be in
reaching your lifestyle goals?
Very Important
Somewhat Important
Not Very Important
Not At All Important
(39.6%)
(37.2%)
(16.7%)
( 6.5%)
Quality of Life?
• Rank order of items that contribute to a good
quality of life
(% ranking item in
top 3 on a scale of 1-8)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Having a secure future for my family
Time to enjoy family/children
Having a great job
Having family/children
Having good friends
Having plenty of money
Having plenty of free time
(72.3%)
(69.3%)
(60.1%)
(63.2%)
(54.6%)
(46.4%)
(40.9%)
Mean
6.33
6.18
5.86
5.84
5.60
5.08
4.72
What Kind of Community Do you
Intend to Live In?
Predominantly Urban, Mixed Housing Style
Suburban Community, Single Family Homes
Rural Area with Large Lots/Open Space
Other
22.4%
40.7%
29.5%
7.4%
Values
• Mostly important thing passed on to you by your parents?
– Education
13.9%
– Values
69.2%
– Work Ethic
15.6%
– Inheritances
1.4%
• What will be the most important thing you can pass on to
your children?
– Education
17.2%
– Values
74.4%
– Work Ethic
7.2%
– Inheritances
1.1%
If Your Parents Leave You Money
• What will you do with it?
– Invest it
– Use it for living expenses
– Buy a big ticket item (home/car)
– Use it for entertainment or
recreation, such as a vacation
67.2%
23.4%
8.3%
1.2%
Your Generation in the Future
• Someday, your generation will be raising
kids, running corporations and occupying
high political office. When that day comes,
which areas of American life will be better,
the same or worse than today because of
your generation?
– 3 = better
– 2 = same
– 1 = worse
Will be better, the same or worse than
today because of your generation?
3 = better
2 = same
1 = worse
•
•
•
•
•
Technology
Race Relations
Economy
Schools
Arts/Culture
Mean (sd)
2.91 (.33)
2.50 (.60)
2.25 (.73)
2.15 (.78)
2.13 (.63)
Will be better, the same or worse than
today because of your generation?
3 = better
2 = same
1 = worse
Mean (sd)
•
•
•
•
•
Foreign Affairs
Government
Religion
Family Life
Crime/Public Order
2.07
2.01
1.90
1.87
1.82
(.71)
(.68)
(.66)
(.72)
(.65)
Findings
• The majority of millennials in this study
were born to parents age 30 and older.
• They like faculty who are sensitive,
flexible and intellectually challenging.
• They like working in teams but are not
given a lot of opportunity to do so.
• Their job expectations immediately out
of college are not as high as previous
generations.
Findings
• Career components they felt were most important
were being respected on the job, having the
opportunity for professional development, having a
job where they can make an impact on the world,
having access to information, the expression of
personal opinion and working with inspiring
colleagues
• They expect to have 4-6 jobs in their lifetime
• They worry the most about future issues: Future
plans, finding a job to fulfill their goals and
aspirations, money to travel and for hobbies,
adjusting to life after college and paying back
financial debt
Findings
• They expect to someday acquire the lifestyle
they grew up with
• They expect to have a two-income family
• Security and time for family are they two
most important quality of life variables
• Values are the most important thing passed
on to them by their parents and the most
important thing they will pass on to their
children
Findings
• When comparing their generation to
their parents’ generation, they feel they
will be able to improve technology and
race relations.
• When comparing their generation to
their parents’ generation, they feel they
will not be able to improve on religion,
family life and crime and public order.