Blame it largely on the pandemic, which weakened the hold the workplace held on people’s psyches
By outward appearances, the labor market today looks much as it did before the pandemic. The unemployment rate is just as low, the share of adults in the labor force is just as high, and wages are growing at roughly the same pace after inflation.
But beneath the surface, the nature of labor has changed profoundly. Career and work aren’t nearly as central to the lives of Americans. They want more time for their families and themselves, and more flexibility about when, where and how they work.
The impact of this change can already be seen in both individual companies and the broader economy. It has led to a persistent shortage of workers, especially in jobs that seem less desirable because, for example, they require in-person work or fixed hours. That, in turn, has altered the bargaining position of employers and employees—forcing employers to adapt, not just by paying more but giving priority to quality of life in job offers.
To be sure, some of these changes arise from an exceptionally tight labor market. If unemployment rises, some of employees’ newfound leverage may evaporate.
Everyone has said this about the younger generations for as long as humans have been around.
I understand that and I used to say the same thing. That’s ridiculous, old people just don’t like the younger generation BUT I’ve seen it. I currently work at the same place that I worked at almost 20 years ago. I did the same job then that they are doing now. It is almost frightening how many kids lack common sense and basic skills. Maybe it’s always been that way but it’s something I’ve observed personally. Don’t get me wrong, I work with some extremely smart and talented teens but they are few and far between.
It’s this total lack of self awareness that has defined the older generations forever, as well.
No appreciation for how the world has changed for young people and the new challenges they face, overweighting the things older people have seen and done.
Don’t be part of the problem with the world.
Because the common sense and basic skills that they use every day are different, they exist in an entirely different world.
Yes they are different but they are still COMMON and BASIC. As in, they should be something that everyone possesses regardless of the world they live in. The sad thing is that so many of these kids don’t have them. It’s not their fault, I understand that. I try to share my knowledge with anyone that wants to listen
Examples?
I’m still youngish (29) but there’s been a definite shift in new hires at our tech company. I know “everyone always complains about the young generation” anecdotally so I’ll give some concrete examples (I used to work with the internal reporting people so I’ve seen the data):
-5x+ increase on cheating in onboarding tests (not hr bs but like actual stuff for the job). Everyone’s cheating. And talking to people who were in school in the pandemic with virtual classes, everyone there was cheating too so if you didn’t cheat you were falling behind
-people coming in at 10 and leaving at 2. Our company had been around for 50+ years and has a generally laid back tech vibe where you get your work done and you’re good. It’s never been an issue. So many new hires this past year were doing it that we had to institute a mandatory 9-5 which really pissed off everyone else who was getting shit done
-customer feedback. Objective ratings of the support from newer hires is lower than we’ve ever had for the tenure cohort
Each of these backs up the anecdotal feeling we have that newer hires aren’t as independent or resilient. That being said, this is a generalization and the majority of them are doing good work. Just less than before
I’m 45 and you’re literally describing what i have seen so, so many times across my career any time a new bunch of fresh-outta-uni hires rolled in.