Millennials are changing the face of the workplace.
It was inevitable that millennials would take over the workforce, and according to The Wall Street Journal, that day has come.
The roughly 18-to-34-year-old generation now makes up the largest share of the U.S. workforce. At 34 percent, the article says, millennials account for more workers than Generation X (32 percent) and baby boomers (31 percent).
“It’s encouraging to see young people finally landing the jobs they’ve been waiting for,” says NFIB Media Director Jack Mozloom.
While there are some mixed feelings about the millennials taking over the workforce, The Wall Street Journal points out that companies are making adjustments accordingly, such as relaxing office dress codes or providing networking opportunities for young employees.
And while there is much ado about millennials lacking job loyalty, it might be a moot point. As FiveThirtyEight reports, “Younger workers do tend to change jobs more often than older workers, but that’s always been true. Numbers on job tenure for Americans in their 20s were almost exactly the same in the 1980s as they are today.”
The influx of millennials can be good for the economy, Mozloom says.
“Obviously they’re well educated, and they have skills that small business needs,” he says. “But they are also becoming consumers, home buyers and business owners themselves, which creates demand. That’s good news.”
Looking to engage millennials a bit more? Check out:
- This NFIB feature about how small businesses can tap into the tech-savvy and inquisitive generation
- An infographic breaking down the characteristics of millennial small business owners
- An article about how to attract millennials to your company
