With four generations now in today's workforce and a fifth soon entering, organizations must adapt their talent strategies to understand how each generation works differently and leverages technology differently. Younger generations are more confident, achievement-driven, and connected through technology, while older generations value hard work and respect for authority. As Baby Boomers increasingly retire, there will be fewer experienced leaders to fill key roles unless companies can retain talent from younger generations.

1. With four different generations functioning in the workplace today (and a fifth
one just around the corner), many organizations are faced with understanding
how to adapt. These generations are wired differently, they work differently, and
organizations need to adjust their talent strategies—or they’ll be left behind.
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Sources: PEW Research Center, Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2012, European Commission, 1/17/2013;
“Japan Keeps a High Wall for Foreign Labor,” New York Times, 01/02/2011; “Chinese Labor Pool Begins to Drain,” CNBC,
01/19/2013; “Baby Boomers Envision What’s Next,” AARP, June 2011, Wikipedia.org; MRI Data; American Demographics
Magazine, Bureau of Labor Statistics; BLS Monthly Labor Review, January 2012
Silent Generation
• 66+ years old
• Hard workers with respect for authority, accustomed to delayed rewards
• Their glue = war and struggle
Baby Boomers
• 48 – 65 years old
• 78.5 million in the U.S.
• Optimistic, focused on personal growth, “me” generation, struggle with work/life balance
• Their glue = music
Gen X
• 30 – 47 years old
• 45 million in the U.S.
• Maintain work/life balance, blurred lines between home/work, techno-literate, global thinkers
• Their glue = acceleration of technology
Gen Y
• 18 – 29 years old
• 79.8 million in the U.S.
• Confident, achievement-driven, volunteers, respect diversity, tolerant, optimistic, connected
• Their glue = Internet/connectivity
KEY FACTS
IN THE U.S.,
10,000Baby Boomers per day
will enter retirement age
every day for the next
19 years
BY 2014 IN EUROPE,
only segments of the
population over
45 years old are
anticipated to grow
BY 2055 IN JAPAN,
more than one in three
Japanese will be over
65 years old
IN 2013, GEN Y was
nearly 35% of the U.S.
workforce
By 2020, they will be 44%
BY 2025, FORBES®
anticipates that 75% of
the global workforce
will be Gen Y
35%
75%
11%
FUTURE PLANS
of Baby Boomers want to work after retirement age
80%
of Gen Y want to be entrepreneurs
70%
LEADERSHIP DEFICIT
Baby Boomers are being followed by 45 million
Gen Xers, leaving not enough leaders to fill the gaps
79million
of Gen Yers are actively looking for new jobs, even
if they’re happy—and they’ll look to change jobs or
companies every 2.4 years
50%
HAVE YOU MET
Gen Z?• 17 years old and younger
• Most tech-enabled generation
in the history of the world
• Computers, technology, and constant
connectivity have been ingrained in every
aspect of their lives
• Gen Y will be managing them
BY 2020, GEN Z will comprise 11% of the
U.S. workforce