Managing The Multigenerational Workforce

October 2015

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CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study focuses on how generational issues are changing workforce dynamics. It is available free of charge with a simple registration at https://www.comptia.org/resources/managing-the-multigenerational-workforce

2002

2012

2022

15%

35%

52%

22%

21%

19%

48%

44%

26%

Baby BoomersGen XMillennials

Workforce Composition Changing Fast

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

The BLS age brackets drive the following definition for the generational cohorts:

• Baby Boomers: 1948-1967• Gen X: 1968-1977• Millennials: 1978-2002

Company Technology Status Increasingly Important

34%

40%

25%

Degree to Which Company Technology Usage Affects Employment Decision

21%

40%

39%

14%

37%

50%

Significant Factor Somewhat of a Factor Neutral/Not a Factor

Millennials Gen X Baby Boomers

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Employees View Themselves as Tech Savvy

Cutting edge Upper tier In the middle Lower tier Near bottom4%

26%

59%

11%

1%

21%

34%37%

7%

1%

30%

40%

28%

2%

0%

Baby BoomersGen XMillennials

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Tablet

Laptop

Smartphone

Landline telephone

Printer

Desktop computer

40%

62%

67%

55%

70%

82%

28%

61%

59%

53%

72%

75%

18%

43%

43%

63%

75%

81%

Baby Boomers Gen X Millennials

Wide Distribution of Devices in the Workplace

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Internet Access is Critical for Most Workers

Little/no inconvenience

Moderate inconvenience

Significant inconvenience

Crippling

11%

19%

50%

19%

8%

23%

50%

19%

5%

13%

55%

27%

MillennialsGen XBaby Boomers

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Effect on Work if Internet Access was Lost

Email Still Dominates the Communications Landscape

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Microsoft Outlook72%

Gmail41%

Skype30%

Lync22% Chatter

7%

Yammer6%

Jive5%

Slack4%

IT Support Needs Expected to Increase

Decreasing

No change

Increasing

9%

58%

33%

7%

49%

44%

8%

34%

58%

Millennials

Gen XBaby Boomers

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Preferences for Improving IT Support

More acceptance of responsibility

More options for getting IT support

Better explanation for root cause and resolution

Better customer service / professionalism

Better communication

More proactive maintenance

Faster support/ resolution of IT issues

14%

18%

33%

18%

34%

39%

48%

11%

25%

31%

27%

31%

42%

53%

8%

20%

28%

30%

36%

45%

49%

MillennialsGen XBaby Boomers

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

IT Support Does a Good Job, but there is Room for Improvement

25%

45%

29%

Mostly Satisfied

At least somewhat dissatisfied

Very Satis-fied

Worker Satisfaction with IT Support Worker Preferences for Improving IT Support

50% Faster resolution of the issue

42% More proactive maintenance

33% Better communication

31% Better explanation of issue causes

25% Better customer service

21% More options for getting IT support

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Training/Professional Development in the Past Year

29%

19%

24%

28%

Mandatory Training

Voluntary Train-ing

Both Voluntary and Manda-tory

No Training Undertaken

Types of Training Undertaken

Social media use

Sales/business development

Sexual harrassment

Team building/communication

Legal/complicance related

Security related

Technology related

Specific to profession

18%

18%

28%

32%

33%

35%

40%

57%

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Training/Professional Development Methodologies

Level of Professional Development Desired in the next year

Learning Methodologies Used in the Past 12 Months

15%

41% 40%

4%Significantly

MoreModerately

MoreStay the

SameLess

40% Self-study (training/review guides)

39% Informal training by peers/managers

34% E-learning (instructor-led and self-

paced)

34% Live/pre-recorded webcasts/webinars

33% Instructor-led classroom sessions on-

site

24% Instructor-led classroom sessions off-

site

10% Other type of training/prof. dev.

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Preferences for Training Improvements

More simulations or gaming elements

More social elements

More mobility elements, such as app-based training

More autonomy for staff to design their own training plan

More e-learning

More cross-training with employees from other areas

More follow-up after training to ensure it aligns with goals

More time set aside for training

4%

6%

13%

17%

23%

33%

28%

39%

14%

17%

18%

22%

33%

34%

30%

45%

24%

21%

26%

22%

26%

37%

33%

35%

MillennialsGen XBaby Boomers

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals

Younger Workers Place Greater Value on Certifications

Not Valuable

Neutral

Valuable

24%

33%

43%

10%

29%

61%

8%

21%

70%

MillennialsGen XBaby Boomers

Source: CompTIA’s Managing the Multigenerational Workforce study | Base: 700 U.S. business professionals