How do you hold on to your Gen Z employees?

For many of today’s young professionals, a job is viewed not as a long-term commitment, but a stepping stone. Recent research from Revelio Labs suggests that so-called ‘job hopping’ is a “feature not a bug” for Gen Z, who tend to emphasise flexibility, personal growth and rapid progress over loyalty to one employer. 

If retention is one Gen Z-related challenge for managers, it may not be their only one. CMI research found that only 3% of managers believe graduates are equipped with the skills required for the workplace. “Employers want to see what are, in essence, core management skills,” said Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of policy and public affairs, in a piece for The Times.

A recent LinkedIn poll also identified skills gaps in young recruits: 58% of respondents stated resilience, and 36% said communication skills.

With all of this in mind, how do you keep hold of the young staff who exhibit the key skills that your organisation needs?

Hold on tight

We recently asked the CMI community: what's the most effective way to retain Gen Z staff?

What’s the most effective way to retain Gen Z staff?

Nearly half of respondents said the key was to embrace flexible working, while others agreed that it was about supporting young people’s learning and progression. Surprisingly, despite how important values are to Gen Z, leading with purpose was voted as the most effective way by only 17% of poll respondents. 

“I have found that Gen Z are a very values-based generation,” wrote Hemavathy DM Suppiah in the comments section. “They want to be inspired and feel valued, and they follow leaders who hold true to their values and principles.”

Any other tips?

The comments section also featured a range of other insightful tips. For Iain Cole, retention is about “embracing flexibility, allowing talented individuals to thrive based on their strengths and what energises them”.