Bosses say Gen Zers aren't ready for work. Whose fault is that?
Every generation of new grads doesn't know how to work. Gen Z has it especially rough.
Bosses are expressing concerns that Generation Z workers are not adequately prepared for the workforce. Glenn Fogel, CEO of Priceline's parent company Bookings Holdings, stated that young employees need more guidance on workplace norms. Former Whole Foods CEO John Mackey also noted that young people "don't seem like they want to work."
In 2024, a poll of nearly 1,000 business leaders found that 75% of companies reported recent graduates as unsatisfactory hires. Another survey of 800 HR leaders indicated that 37% would prefer to have a robot or AI perform a job rather than hire a new graduate, and an additional 30% would rather leave the position vacant. Workplace readiness is a vague term that varies across industries and offices.
Employers seek workers skilled in AI, while communication skills have gained importance. Jason Desentz, chief human resources officer at Toshiba, believes that training young people is a shared responsibility between schools and companies. He advocates for focusing on essential skills and discarding superfluous academic content.
Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, emphasizes that colleges must prepare students for today's jobs, equipping them with relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities to navigate an evolving economy, particularly with the rapid growth of AI. While each generational shift faces criticism when entering the workforce, the unique challenges faced by Gen Z—such as limited interpersonal communication, prolonged screen time, and reduced work experience—have contributed to the current concerns.
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