While businesses have typically been keen to replenish teams with younger recruits, many are finding rookies from so-called Generation Z to be more trouble than even their relatively low graduate salaries are worth.
A recently published survey of over 900 executives found 3/4 to be dissatisfied with the work performance of such new hires, with 6 in 10 of the businesses admitting in August to have quickly fired at least 1 person of the age group who had only been recruited since the start of the year.
"Nearly two-thirds (65%) of hiring managers surveyed believe that recent college graduates are entitled, and 63% think they get offended too easily," according to Intelligent.com, an education and career advice website and commissioner of the survey.
The companies surveyed said they perceived a lack of work ethic and poor communication skills among such twenty-something new hires, with one in six of those surveyed claiming they would be reluctant to hire again from the Gen Z or 'Zoomer' cohort, which usually refers to people born between 1997 and 2012.
More than half the businesses surveyed said hires from the age group "do not respond well to feedback."
"They often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills required to succeed in the work environment," said Huy Nguyen, Intelligent’s chief education and career development advisor.
There have been separate warnings in recent weeks from academics at UC Berkeley, Columbia University and Oxford University that students are struggling to finish books or read to the levels of previous generations.
"Growing up immersed in social media and text-based communication means many young employees may struggle with face-to-face conversations, especially those expected in professional settings," said Mark Travers, a psychologist who analysed the survey results for business magazine Forbes. – dpa
