In 2020, Food Processing Skills Canada commissioned research to examine generational perspectives in the workplace. Given the changing workplace environment for not only the food and beverage manufacturing industry but the Canadian workforce at large, this research was designed to provide Canadian companies and other industry stakeholders with insights into how Canadians in general, and five generations in particular, think about work in 2020 (pre-pandemic).
The following summary provides a snapshot of research highlights and recommendations for employers. The full report, Working Together – A Study of Generational Perspectives in Canada’s Labour Force – is available to download (Click here)
Digitally Innate, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Realistic
Helping to solve social and/or environmental challenges and doing work they are passionate about are significantly more important to Generation Z.
65% of Gen Z agree “work should be fun” and 64% “expect to make friends at work”.
Most Generation Z (60%) express worry about fitting in and making friends at work, as do 54% of Young Millennials.
Overall, Canadians are more likely to agree than disagree that “most young workers have unrealistic expectations” about advancement (49% to 16%). The older one is, the more likely they are to agree, while Gen X members are evenly split.
Generation Z is more likely than any other segment to prefer learning onsite in a classroom (i.e., 50% select this approach compared to only 17% who would rather learn on their own, online).
“The opportunity to try different jobs within the organization” is appealing by 82% of Generation Z.
Collaborative, Passion over Paycheck, Globally Connected
Younger Millennials are more focused on career advancement (e.g., becoming an expert, a senior leader and learning new things).
They are also interested in helping to solve social and/or environmental challenges and doing work they are passionate about.
54% of Young Millennials express worry about fitting in and making friends at work.
Overall, Canadians are more likely to agree than disagree that “most young workers have unrealistic expectations” about advancement (49% to 16%). The older one is, the more likely they are to agree, while Gen X members are evenly split.
Younger Millennials are more likely than any other segment to prefer learning onsite in a classroom (i.e., 50% select this approach compared to only 17% who would rather learn on their own, online).
“The opportunity to try different jobs within the organization” is appealing to 67% of Younger Millennials
Focused on Health, Access not Ownership, Want to Own a Home
65% of Older Millennials answered that they would want to stay with the same organization for as long as they can. 59% agreed that work should be fun.
The most common sources of worry, from a list of nine, revolve around finances (i.e., being able to enjoy retirement and making enough money) and work-life balance (i.e., balancing work and a healthy lifestyle).
54% of older millennials were in agreement that “Most Older Workers Resist Change”.
35% of Older Millennials selected a classroom setting onsite as their preferred learning approach.
74% of Older Millennials found “The opportunity to work with new technologies” appealing.
54% of older millennials were in agreement that “Most Older Workers Resist Change”
Skeptical, Work-Life Balance, Independent
The majority of Gen X (71%) answered that they would want to stay with the same organization for as long as they can. 58% agreed that work should be fun.
When it comes to older workers, a strong plurality of those surveyed (47%) agree that “older workers resist change” (only 18% disagree).
67% of Gen X found “The opportunity to work with new technologies” appealing.
30% of both Gen X and Boomers preferred the option “Online learning at my own pace” as their preferred learning approach.
70% of Gen X “The opportunity to try different jobs within the organization” appealing.
67% of Gen X found “The opportunity to work with new technologies” appealing.
Optimistic & Idealistic, Questions Authority, Redefining Retirement
First, most Canadians (58%), and Boomers in particular (70%), say that they “love” their job, while only 24% of the sample agree that work for them is only about a paycheck.
70% of Boomers agreed with the statement “I would want to stay with the same organization for as long as I can”
Among the five age segments, this study finds that Boomers are least worried about most issues examined in the survey, including making enough money, career advancement, achieving work-life balance, making friends and fitting in, being overworked, and raising children while working.
When it comes to older workers, a strong plurality of those surveyed (47%) agrees that “older workers resist change” (only 18% disagree). The Boomer segment is the only cohort within which there is not majority agreement with this view (33% compared to 36% who disagree).
Self-directed online learning is most popular among Boomers.
61% of Boomers found “The opportunity to coach/mentor others” appealing.
67% found “The opportunity to try different jobs within the organization” appealing.
67% found “The opportunity to work with new technologies” appealing
Quebeckers are notably different when it comes to career goals, aspirations and concerns, and their lack of openness to working in food and beverage manufacturing.
Quebeckers are also less interested in working in “smart manufacturing”.
As Generation Z ages into Younger Millennials, advancement becomes more important. They hope to see a path forward and are particularly keen to learn new things.
Collaborative, Passion over Paycheck, Globally Connected