The Millennial Generation: What We Know About This Generation of the Future

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The Millennial GenerationWhat We Know About
This Generation of the Future

• Central Piedmont Community College
• Center for Applied Research
• Bobbie Fields
• Terri Manning
• Cheryl Roberts

A Study Funded by the Workforce Development Board
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The Echo Boom/Millennials

• The Millennials are almost as large as the baby
  boom-some say larger - depending on how you
  measure them.
• The Millennials are the children born between
  1982 and 2002 (peaked in 1990), a cohort called
  by various names

Echo Boom
Generation Y
Net Generation
Millennials
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Demographic Explanations for the Echo Boom

• The Baby Boomers chose to become older parents in
  the 1980s while Gen X moms reverted back to the
  earlier birth-age norm.
• Two generations were having babies.
• In 1989, 29 percent of the 4.4 million live
  births were to women aged 30 and older.
• From 1981 to 1997 the fertility rate of women
  aged 4549 rose by 88.

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Boomer (84M) and Millennial Births (81M)
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Millennial Births in Millions
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Demographic Trends

• Millennials have older parents Average age of
  mothers at birth at an all time high of 27 in
  1997.
• Smaller families. Only children will comprise
  about 10 of the population.
• The Millennial childhood coincides with the most
  monumental financial boom in history.
• More parental education 1 in 4 has at least one
  parent with a college degree.
• Kids born in the late 90s are the first in
  American history whose mothers are better
  educated than their fathers by a small margin.

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Demographic Trends - Diversity

• Millennials have become the most racially and
  ethnically diverse generation in US History.
• Nearly 35 of Millennials are nonwhite or Latino.
  
• Latinos are the largest minority group (16)
  followed by blacks (14) making this the first
  generation in US history in which blacks are no
  longer the largest of all racial and ethnic
  minorities.

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Millennials - Ethnically Diverse
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Technology

• This generation has been plugged in since they
  were babies.
• They grew up with educational software and
  computer games.
• They think technology should be free.
• They want and expect services 24/7.
• They do not live in an 85 world.
• They all have cell phones and expect to be
  in contact 24/7.
• They function in an international
  world.

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Safety Issues

• The Safest Generation
• This generation was buckled up in car seats, wore
  bike helmets, elbow and knee pads when skating,
  and were the inspiration for Baby on Board
  signs
• The Well-Being of U.S. Teens
• Mortality Rate for US teens aged 1519 declined
  from 1960 to 1997
• -Teens are having fewer accidents than Boomers

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Baby Boomers as Parents

• Boomers rebelled against the parenting practices
  of their parents.
• They made conscious decisions not to say because
  I told you so or because Im the parent and
  youre the child.
• They explained things to their children,
  (actions, consequences, options, etc.).
• They allowed their children to have input into
  family decisions, educational options and
  discipline issues.
• This coupled with the popularity of computer
  software/ games that changed the ending based on
  the decisions children made (Role Playing Games).
• Millennials became master negotiators who were
  capable of rational thought and decision-making
  skills at young ages.

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Focus on Self-esteem

• This generation was the center of the
  self-esteem movement.
• 9,068 books were written about self-esteem and
  children during the 80s and 90s.
• The state of California spent millions studying
  the construct and published a document entitled
  Toward a State of Self-esteem.
• Researchers say this generation feels
  disconnected, question their existence, purpose
  and the meaning of life. They want to feel
  valued and cared about.
• All this attention has made children aware of
  their own personal happiness.

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Baby Boomer Parents have been their Biggest
Cheerleaders

• Millennials expect and need praise.
• Will mistake silence for disapproval.
• Millennials expect feedback.

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Millennials Want to Learn

• With technology
• With each other
• Online
• In their time
• In their place
• Doing things that matter (most important)

Source Achievement and the 21st Century Learner.
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12th Graders Views of School
60
51
47
50
41
40
39
36
35
40
31
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Percent
28
30
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1983
21
1990
20
1995
10
2000
0
School work is meaningful
Courses are interesting
School will be important in later life
Source The Condition of Education 2002, National
Center for Education Statistics.
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In School

• They need to understand why they
  are doing what they are doing
  objectives of classroom activities
  and projects.
• They want to have input into their educational
  processes.
• They want to be involved in meaningful activities
  not mundane work.
• They think it is cool to be smart.

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How are Millennials doing in school?

• Teachers report that students are doing better
  academically.
• The largest gains have been in math and science
  for ages 9 and 13.
• Millennials have corrected a late 80s decline in
  writing proficiency.
• Reading scores show modest gains
  through the 90s.

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SAT Scores a Twenty Year Reversal
Millennials Taking SAT
Highest SAT Scores in 35 Years
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College Full-time Enrollments in Millions
First Millennial College Graduates Spring 2004
--- Peak Enrollment 2010
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Parental Care in the Millennial Era

• Todays typical family is spending more, not
  less, time with kids.
• Smaller families mean more time with each child.
• Fathers are spending more time with children.
• Less housework is being done.
• There is a strong connection between the social
  lives of parents and kids.
• They get along with their parents and share their
  parents values.

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Multiculturalism

• Millennial kids
• Are used to a wide range of
  global viewpoints
• Are tolerant of cohabitation, single
  parenting and extended families,
  different sexual orientations
• Are accepting of diversity in both the private
  realm and public arena
• Believe we may one day have a black or female
  president

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Ambitions

• Most popular college majors

• Medicine
• Education/teaching
• Business and marketing

• Engineering
• Law and politics
• Computer science

• Most sought after qualities in careers

• Idealistic and committed co-workers

• Responsibility
• Independence
• Creativity

• Most common job trends

• Seek security benefits
• Stay with company that offers a challenge

• Multi-taskers
• Change Careers

Source Industry Week, March, 1998.
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True Multi-taskers

• Millennials have lived programmed lives
  and are already quite capable of
  learning several jobs
  simultaneously and performing
  them admirably.
• Millennials will change careers many times.
• Retooling and recycling their skills and talents
  will become common.
• To retain them, smart employers will encourage
  Millennials to try out different careers within
  the same company.

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Work Atmosphere

• With the right kind of challenge,
  opportunity, security and benefits
  package, Millennials are likely to
  stay with the company.
• Successful employers will have to find ways to
  offer flexible scheduling.
• Employers have learned from the booming service
  sector, where Millennials are working while in
  school, that flex scheduling is needed if you
  want to retain Millennials and get them to show
  up for work.

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Work Atmosphere, cont.

• Millennials expect to work and have fun at the
  same timethey expect work to be fun.
• They have witnessed their baby boom
• parents coming home from stressed jobs,
  exhausted, falling asleep at the dinner table
  and dont want that for themselves.
• Employers need to instill a sense of fun in the
  work atmosphere create
  community. It helps morale
  and helps employees get to
  know each other better.

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Challenging Millennials

• The opportunity to pursue parallel careers might
  be the characteristic that attracts Millennials
  to a company.
• Changing jobs is a natural process and part of
  their daily schedules. They might work in
  accounting 3 days a week and marketing the other
  2.
• They will need to be challenged and provided
  opportunities for learning, stimulation, given
  direction and the ability to be involved in
  company decisions.
• Millennials will create a new culture of work,
  characterized by more independence in the work
  force. Many of them will become entrepreneurs.

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Communication is Key

• Millennials have expectations that the
  information they want will be provided in a
  timely, fast efficient manner.
• Communication, suggestions, feedback- positive
  and negative- need to travel in both directions
  for Millennials.

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Orienting Millennials

• It needs to be communicated to them how their
  work fits into the future scheme of the company.
• Training Millennials with their multitasking
  skills and technological savvy will push training
  to new levels of technology and fun at the same
  time.
• Millennials will respond well to experiential
  learning where they are allowed to come up with
  their own solutions.

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2004 Research Study

• Central Piedmont Community Colleges Center for
  Applied Research was contracted to do this study
  by the Workforce Development Board.
• Student Populations Selected (N1,521)
• Millennials from UNC Charlotte (N739)
• Millennials from Central Piedmont Community
  College (N410)
• Millennials from Johnson C. Smith University
  (N129)
• Non-millennials (N194)
• Data collected JanuaryMarch 2004
• Focus Groups were conducted
• An Online Survey was administered

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Age of Parents

• Father
• Mean49.3 (range 3475) 47 were over 50
• Means UNCC 48.8
• JCSU 49.1
• CPCC 49.6
• Mother
• Mean46.6 (range 3267) 29 were over 50
• Means UNCC 46.0
• JCSU 45.5
• CPCC 47.1

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Characteristics They Look for in Teachers

• At least 50 said
• Enthusiastic about the course/teaching
• Are fun to be around
• Provide intellectual challenges
• Have flexible class policies
• Are sensitive to your needs/feelings
• Emphasize preparing for future career

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This Validates the Research

• The research says they want
• To be trusted and respected
• Teachers to act as helpers
• Opportunities to be responsible
• Freedom, not license
• A place where people care
• Teachers who help them succeed
• To have choices

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Working in Teams

• How do you feel about working in teams?
• I like it 44.7
• Have no feelings about it 25.9
• I dont like it 29.4

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Working in Teams

• In the classroom, do you do the following? 1
  never
• 2 rarely
• 3 sometimes
• 4 often
• Mean (sd)
• Are given team grades on working
• with others 2.62 (.89)
• Write papers/do projects with others 2.41 (.79)
• Study/do research in teams 2.35 (.80)

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Comparing Yourself to People Your Parents Age..

• When your generation is your parents age, will
  you take more, about the same or less interest
  in
• New Technology - more interest
• Voting and Government - about the same
• Reading and the Arts - about the same

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What Will You Do After Graduating?

• Immediately get a job 43
• Continue my education 34
• Take some time off 5
• Marry/start a family 6
• Not sure 13

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Career Field

• How likely do you think it is that your first job
  out of college will be in your career field?
• Very Likely 39.4
• Somewhat Likely 37.4
• Not Likely/Not Sure 20.5

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Salary Expectations

• Realistically, what do you expect your starting
  salary will be when you begin working?
• Millennials
• 15-20K 7.7
• 21-30K 29.3
• 31-40K 27.0
• 41-50K 15.9
• 50K 7.0
• Not sure 12.5

Approximately 65 felt they would learn 40K or
less
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Importance of Career Components

• Elements thought to be very important
• Respected on the Job
• Opportunity for Professional Development
• Ability to Have an Impact on the World

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Importance of Career Components

• Items thought to be somewhat important
• Access to Information and Expression of Personal
  Opinion
• Having High Job Prestige
• Working with Inspiring Colleagues
• Geographic Location of Job
• Receive Guidance and Direction from Supervisor
  

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Importance of Career Components

• Items thought to be somewhat important
• Participating in Company Decisions
• Independence/Professional Autonomy
• Using Creativity on the Job
• Lots of Responsibility
• Flexible Work Hours
• Dress Code Appropriate to
  
• Work Environment

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Importance of Job Benefits

• Benefits thought to be very important
• Health Insurance
• Salary Growth
• Plans like 401K
• Life Insurance
• Bonuses
• Employer-paid Retirement
• Benefits thought to be unimportant
• Stock Options
• Profit Sharing

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Jobs in Lifetime

• How many jobs do you think you will hold in your
  lifetime?
• 1-3 35.7
• 4-6 41.5
• 7-10 16.5
• Over 10 6.2
• 64 expect to have 4 or more jobs

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Worry

• Things they worry about frequently Future Plans
  
• Things they worry about occasionally
  Transitioning to Life After College
• Finding a Job to Fulfill your Goals and
  Aspirations Money to Travel/for Hobbies
  Life After College
• Financial Debt

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Worry

• Things they worry about occasionally
• Home Ownership
• Paying Monthly Bills
• Finding a Job in Your Field
• Relationships After College
• Things they dont worry about at all
• Being Penalized for No Job Experience

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Future Odds

• The following felt it was very likely that they
  would someday
• Work for themselves/own business 21
• Have lifestyle they grew up with 63
• 79 felt a two income household would be somewhat
  to very important in reaching their lifestyle
  goals?

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Quality of Life?

• Rank order of items that contribute to a good
  quality of life
• ( ranking item in top 3 on a scale
  of 1-8) __
• Having a secure future for my family 71.5
• Time to enjoy family/children 68.7
• Having family/children 63.2
• Having a great job 60.4
• Having good friends 55.2
• Having plenty of money 45.5
• Having plenty of free time 40.2

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What Kind of Community Do you Intend to Live In?

• Predominantly Urban, Mixed Housing Style 22.7
• Suburban Community, Single Family Homes 40.1
• Rural Area with Large Lots/Open Space 30.1
• Other 7.1

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Your Generation in the Future

• Someday, your generation will be raising kids,
  running corporations and occupying high political
  office. When that day comes, which areas of
  American life will be better, the same or worse
  than today because of your generation?
• 3 better
• 2 same
• 1 worse

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Areas they felt they would do better
Technology Race Relations Areas they
felt they would do about the same
Economy Schools Arts/Culture
Foreign Affairs Areas they felt they couldnt
improve on Government Family
Life Religion Crime/Public Order
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Findings

• They like faculty who are sensitive, flexible and
  intellectually challenging.
• They like working in teams but are not given a
  lot of opportunity to do so.
• Their job expectations immediately out of college
  are not as high as previous generations.

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Findings

• They expect to have 46 jobs in their lifetime.
• They expect to someday acquire the lifestyle they
  grew up with.
• They expect to have a two-income family.

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Findings

• Security and time for family are they two most
  important quality of life variables.
• Values are the most important thing passed on to
  them by their parents and the most important
  thing they will pass on to their children.

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Findings

• When comparing their generation to their parents
  generation, they feel they will be able to
  improve technology and race relations.
• When comparing their generation to their parents
  generation, they feel they will not be able to
  improve on religion, family life and crime and
  public order.

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