After 26 years in the staffing industry, I’ve seen many changes in the work ethic of younger people over time. While there have always been shifts between employee markets and employer markets, the newer candidates we see seem far less interested in getting that job than in previous times.
In the not so distant past, we had a clipboard on our counter where people could walk in, sign up for temp jobs, or any jobs, and we’d call when we needed people and within the first few minutes, the order was filled with willing, eager candidates. That is no longer the case.
My staff often struggles to fill jobs when we call candidates who seemingly are holding out for better. The former attitude of, ‘Sure, I’ll take it!’ is no longer in play.
As I’m now turning 64, I feel I can finally say, “The kids these days” as I feel I’ve earned the right and have seen multiple generations pass through our doors.
What’s different? Why the change? Don’t younger people need money and experience from entry level jobs? We call people who are unemployed, very lightly skilled, and despite that, are pickier than ever. Kind of boggles the mind.
I think about this phenomenon a lot and have wondered if this generation of up and comers has a different outlook because of societal differences in their upbringing. For example, when I was a kid, we played outside – video games hadn’t been invented yet. We played sports, we got bruises and cuts, we walked, ran, got dirty and would sweat.
We rode our bikes, I mean actually pedaled them. Today I see kids, even little kids, whizzing by on their electric bikes. They can reach respectable (even dangerous) speeds by pushing a button –
no need for any physical exertion. The effort needed to zoom around is minimal.
When they attempt to look for a job, they respond electronically via a job board, often sending a resume crafted by ChatGPT. The days of young people doing things manually seem to be over.
Could this be the difference between generations? Is the fact that less effort is needed by our youth on so many fronts affecting younger generation’s attitude towards work? Or, have newer technologies simply made life easier and this is natural progression in human evolution?
There is much fear and discussion about AI taking our jobs, replacing entry level jobs, but I wonder if it might actually save the day in filling roles we humanoids no longer care to mess with. Work still needs to be done, and if our younger generation is not willing or able to perform them, AI most certainly will.
