Gen Z set to overtake Boomers in the US workforce by next year, but Millennials – or the ‘avocado toast generation’ – will dominate until 2040s
- Boomers dominated the workplace from the late 1970s to 2011
- Generation X outnumbered other generations for a brief period between 2011 and 2018
- Millennials are still expected to remain at the top until 2040
A study shows that members of Generation Z will have more full-time jobs than baby boomers by early 2024.
Although still seen as children by many, Generation Z – those born since 1997 – is beginning to flood the workforce.
They currently hold approximately 17.1 million full-time jobs study by Glassdoor. There are only a few hundred thousand fewer Gen Z workers than Boomers, of which about 17.3 million work full-time.
Boomers were the largest generation in the full-time workforce from the late 1970s to the end of 2011.
Generation
Generation Z will overtake baby boomers in the labor market by early 2024, according to US Census Bureau data analyzed by Glassdoor.
According to the research, millennials will still represent the majority of employees until the early 2040s, after which Generation Z will overtake them.
Baby boomers are the only generation officially designated by the US Census Bureau and are defined as those born between the wave of post-World War II births in 1946 and 1964.
In general, Generation X includes those born between 1965 and 1980.
Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is considered a millennial – also known as the ‘avocado toast generation’ – and those born since 1997 are part of Generation Z.
As the generations that dominate the workplace change, so do the norms.
As Generation X began to take charge, it pushed for a better work-life balance. Then Millennials created a culture where they changed jobs more often.
And when it comes to Gen Z, remote work has become increasingly common and desirable.
Although Generation Z will overtake the Boomers, they won’t dominate the workforce until sometime in the 2040s, according to the research.
“The coming year will continue to represent a pivotal moment of cultural change that American companies cannot afford to ignore, as Gen Z workers… make up a rapidly growing share of the workforce,” the Glassdoor report said.
It suggested that members of Generation Z “place great value on community connections, making their voices heard in the workplace, transparent and responsive leadership, and diversity and inclusion.”