Generation Z (or Gen Z) are defined as a demographic of individuals who were born between the years 1996 and 2010. And they are now beginning to enter the workforce and shaping it in interesting ways. How is this changing workplaces in the public sector?
Digital natives and service to the public
Gen Z are ‘digital natives’ as they were the first generation with their lives completely intertwined with technology, with an extreme online presence. So, it is no surprise that Gen Z looks towards technology and the internet for anything, from the news to shopping to even socialising due to the ubiquity of social media platforms. This has allowed them to build familiarity and intuition with technology that is beyond the lived experiences of previous generations.
Similarly, in recent years, we have also seen the advancement and evolution of technology that grew up with Gen Z, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the birth of increasingly complex chat-bots such as ChatGPT by OpenAI. The evolution of this technology also means a workforce that requires specialised niche skills, with minds that are adaptive and intuitive to the new technological changes.
The main success of governments and the public sector is defined by an efficient and integral service given to the public. As the public sector also changes with increased adoption of new technologies, Gen Z workers are perfect candidates for the tech-reliant workforce. Therefore, the public sector can really harness this generational potential for effective service delivery to the public.
Diversity and inclusion for the ‘woke’ generation
As a result of growing up with technology, Gen Z is also a very diverse and educated generation. By virtue of literally having the world at their fingertips, they are very aware of various societal issues. This means workplaces chosen by Gen Z must also be diverse and inclusive. This is especially important in the public sector, as programmes and policies shaped by Gen Z workers will be reflective of the social awareness and inclusivity fostered by the generation. This in turn can translate to public trust and a greater sense of democracy, especially because the workforce would start to represent the society it is serving.
Supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce can look like:
- Welcoming and actively seeking out public servants who may have diverse backgrounds, skills, experiences, perspectives and abilities.
- Ensuring that there are no barriers that could prevent equitable involvement in public service work.
- Encouraging and supporting open communication, collaboration and respectfulness with diverse individuals and teams. Working towards clearly defined public service goals.
- Bringing forward concerns and creating safe and inclusive environments, especially by people in leadership positions.
Entering the workforce in a pandemic-defined world and work-life balance
Socially aware Gen Z with the world at their fingertips may choose workplaces that really align with their values and a sense that they are serving a greater purpose. Thus, the public sector is a great place to work for a Gen Z as it allows them to be of service for the greater good. However, since the pandemic, there is a growing sense of the need for a good work-life balance. Gen Z is reshaping the workplace narrative as they entered the workforce during the pandemic, or started their first ‘adult’ jobs, post-pandemic.
As remote jobs and online workplace arrangements become more common, especially to prevent communicable diseases, Gen Z seems to be pushing for posts with an emphasis on flexible work arrangements, remote work options and a stronger focus on mental health support from their employers. This allows for work experiences that seem more holistic, with employers needing to rethink traditional notions of a work-life balance. And especially as the post-pandemic economy brings soaring inflation and higher costs of living but inadequate wages, Gen Z is definitely re-evaluating their identities in relation to work. This is probably also compounded by a shift in perspectives surrounding priorities in one’s life in a post-pandemic world, not just for Gen Z, but for the world in general. And maybe the trends reflect the shift away from revolving a life around work, to living a more fulfilling life. Gen Z is here for it.
So, Gen Z and the public sector workplace are evolving in continuously intertwining lines, with advancement in technology, focus on diversity and inclusion and work-life balance in a post-pandemic world. Perhaps this will lead to a public sector that is technologically equipped for better public service delivery and a holistic, diverse workplace that cares about employee health and wellbeing.
This article is reproduced from Apolitical.
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