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New college graduates and hiring managers are far from being on the same page when it comes to Generation Z’s workforce preparedness.
A new report from TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being solutions company which focuses on on higher education, reveals that 88% of the Class of 2023 feels prepared to enter the workforce. However, half of hiring managers and business leaders surveyed by ResumeBuilder say it’s difficult to work with their generation all or most of the time. Instead, they’d rather hire Millennials.
Managers cite GenZers’ lack of technological skills, lack of motivation, inattention and thin skin as their top complaints, and they mentioned employees’ lack of motivation and their proclivity to take offense as the top reasons they fired someone. In fact, 65% say they more commonly need to fire GenZers than employees of other generations.
The report notes that nearly eight in 10 (79%) graduating seniors say COVID-19 impacted their workforce preparedness, with mental health struggles being the top reason (68%) graduates felt behind the eight ball.
The graduating class of 2023, had a largely disrupted college experience. Four years ago, most students in the class of 2023 were less than a year into their college career when the global pandemic brought everything to a halt. The graduating class of 2023 endured the pandemic’s impact throughout their four-year college careers.
A survey by a Texas A&M professor entitled “Effects of COVID-19 on College Students’ Mental Health in the United States” suggests mental illness may have had an impact on students’ motivation, concentration and social interactions, and the graduating class of 2023 endured the pandemic’s impact throughout their four-year college careers.
How higher ed can bridge the student-employer gap
The report suggest, higher education should prioritize students’ mental health resources’ even after college, work to develop students interpersonal skills, and further the build campus-based career development centers.
The report suggest, higher education should prioritize students’ mental health resources’ even after college, work to develop students interpersonal skills, and further the build campus-based career development centers.
“As a result of COVID-19 and remote education, GenZers may lack the foundation to be more successful than older generations in entry-level positions,” said Stacie Haller, a Chief Career Advisor at TimelyCare. “We know that with remote work and education, communication skills do not develop as well and people tend to work more independently. This generation may need more training when it comes to professional skills.”
“The survey results make clear that COVID’s long shadow continues to impact today’s students as they transition into tomorrow’s employees,” said Jerrod Hinders, Counseling Center Coordinator at Amarillo College. “It’s critical that both colleges and employers invest in their mental health, basic needs and overall well-being.”