The last couple of years have produced a hiring climate that is unlike anything most of us have ever seen before. Rampant layoffs, return to office initiatives and job consolidation are finding record numbers of people looking for a new opportunity, or in some cases, looking for any kind of job at all. Another interesting element is that we also now have more generations working together than ever before.
A late 2024 survey of 500 job seekers looked at the job search habits of Baby Boomers, Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z. The survey conducted by Geographic Solutions, a provider for workforce software for the government and the private sector, provided some interesting insights into how job seekers from different generations tackle the job search.
Generational Touchpoints
- Nearly 62% of Gen Z respondents found the limited number of employment opportunities to be the most stressful aspect of the job search process. Job seekers with more tenure are also finding themselves competing for a smaller number of specialized, highly skilled roles.
- 67% of Millennials and 61% of Gen X find the lack of communication from employers challenging and are likely to experience anxiety as result of drawn-out interview processes and frequent ghosting.
- Baby Boomers experience an elevated level of stress from long interview processes and the competition with other job seekers.
- Remote and hybrid positions are still preferred by job seekers from several generations.
These statistics also show that employment seekers of all ages and a range of experiences would like to see a more straightforward job recruitment process that prioritizes upfront and consistent communication. To land a role in an increasingly tough hiring environment, candidates are embellishing their resume in hopes of landing a new position, according to the survey of 500 anonymous job candidates. Of all the demographics, Gen Z was the most likely to embellish their skills (60%). While Millennials (70%), Gen X (65%) and Baby Boomers (70%) are more likely to change their job titles.
Hiring with Staffing Kansas City
Staffing Kansas City is here to help all kinds of job candidates, including part-time, full-time and contract positions. Our experienced job recruiters have a well-established presence among small and medium sized businesses throughout the Kansas City metro, and we are known for helping businesses find the right candidates. Check out our latest job openings and give us a call!
