Now now, before you start groaning about how someone’s written another article bashing millennials, hear us out. We’re not saying it’s millennials’ fault that they’re disengaged – but we can’t say that we’re not alarmed.
Analytics firm Gallup recently conducted a huge report titled How Millennials Want to Work and Live. Combining and analysing the results of 30 separate studies over 1 million respondents, Gallup came up with one huge takeaway. Only 29% of millennials (defined in this report as being born between 1980 and 1996) are ‘engaged’ at work. Meaning – less than a third of young people are emotionally and behaviorally connected to their job and company.
Less than a third of millennials are engaged at work
The Gallup report seems to show how millennials are markedly more ‘checked out’ than other generations in the workplace. Their findings suggest that in comparison to generations prior, they lack energy and passion at work, are indifferent to the job, and show up for their 9-5 just to put in the hours.
Indifference is a dangerous thing. The Gallup report also estimates that 21% of millennials have changed their job within the last year. This is more than three times the number of non-millennials. The desire for millennials to ‘job-hop’ apparently costs the U.S. economy $30.5 billion annually. No small matter.
What does this data suggest about millennials?
You might be tempted to blame it all on those pesky entitled millennials, slumped at their desk on a Monday morning secretly scrolling their Instagram feeds under the desk. However, we have to question what exactly is turning millennials off their work life. It can’t just be because we grew up with cellphones, right?
Gallup suggests millennials probably don’t want to change jobs. However, what is more likely is that their companies aren’t giving them enough reason to stay. The one big difference between millennials and, let’s say, baby boomers, is that they’re more likely to jump ship if they feel dissatisfied.
Read More: Latest research reveals record low levels for youth happiness
What’s wrong with wanting more for yourself? Whether it’s a job with purpose, a higher salary or more responsibility, millennials are just going for what they want with more vigour and enthusiasm. Perhaps this may spell the end of job loyalty. But with the economy the way that it is, perhaps we should all be taking a leaf out of a millennial’s playbook.
