Generation Z: If You Want to Retain Them, You've Got to Train Them

Most workers surveyed by the Conference Board research firm earlier this year said they’d be more likely to leave an employer that didn’t provide education and training to help them develop new skills, stay up to date on trends, and advance their careers.

Yet, in a Talent LMS/BambooHR survey of 1,205 U.S. 19-to-25-year-olds who have been employed for at least six months, three in 10 said they have not received workplace training.

Training and technology intersect

It’s clear that training is important, but training as usual may not be effective for the millions of workers born after 1996 who are entering the workforce each year. The characteristics of these workers, known as Generation Z, should be front of mind when developing a training strategy.

Gen Z is the first generation to live their entire lives with technology like laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones. Because of this, they tend to prefer self-directed learning when it comes to job training.

They are used to being constantly connected to social media and thrive in workplaces that value frequent communication and transparency. They realize that in-person communication is not the only option — for jobs that can be done remotely, they typically will not understand why they must be in an office full time. This can make training a challenge.

How to effectively provide training to Generation Z

Here are some tips on how to create compelling and engaging training for young adults, based on findings from the Talent LMS/Bamboo HR survey:

• Offer training via smartphone: 62 percent of Gen Z workers want to access and complete training from their smartphones.
• Break down training into shorter sessions: 63 percent said they’d remember more of the material if training was broken into shorter sessions.
• Make training immersive: 59 percent would learn better and faster if training was immersive.
• Include lots of videos in training content: For 56 percent, training would be more engaging if there were more training videos in the learning material.
• Gamify training: 56 percent would enjoy training more if it was gamified.

These tips may help fine tune the approach to employee training. As employers continue to grapple with how to retain staff, companies should continue to evaluate the type of training being offered, as well as the format and frequency.

Key to remember: Workers born after 1996, known as Generation Z, value training. Tailoring training to their learning style may help you retain these young workers.