“You need a car to go to work, you work to pay off the car you just bought” Generation Z’s vision of work has evolved, as Orelsan describes from the start of The earth is round. But have business leaders, who seek to recruit these young people, really understood their expectations? And besides, what are they really? These are the questions which pushed the CCI of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, where the market tends towards almost full employment, to carry out a sociological study described as “unprecedented”, with Nantes University. Some 1,700 young people between 15 and 30 years old and nearly 350 employers in Loire-Atlantique were subjected between March and May to a “mirror” questionnaire: and if there is sometimes agreement in the responses, the aspirations of the former are not always those that the latter imagine, according to the results presented Wednesday evening.
“We notice that there are a lot of beliefs on the business side,” indicates Laurence Vernay, first vice-president of the CCI. When it comes to the representation of work, they talk a lot about the notion of fulfillment, more than young people who are much more pragmatic in recalling the importance of being paid adequately.” The latter have other very specific criteria for their “ideal profession”, and there are again gaps with what the companies project. The pride gained by work is, for example, rated 4.3/5 by young people, while bosses only give it 3.2. Utility garners 4.1 among the first, 3.4 among the second.
Gen Z, less lost than we think
But the two main reasons, and here both parties are on the same wavelength, are in fact the content of the position which must be “stimulating”, and the work-life balance. When it comes to choosing a company, the atmosphere and well-being come first, but always with favorable salary conditions just behind. “Young people also express their expectation of strong societal commitments from companies, first and foremost gender equality,” indicates the CCI.
Another lesson from the study: Generation Z is less lost than it seems: while 91% of bosses think that young people do not know precisely what profession they want to pursue, 54% of them say that their vision is clear. Although the permanent contract has long been the holy grail, 23% still want “exclusively” a fixed-term contract for their first job. While one might think they were tempted by a “big resignation”, the new generation adheres to the 35-hour week and still seems to favor the 5-day week, as much as the 4-day week. “Young people are not turning their backs on the company, but we must build another relationship with work,” summarizes André Ndobo, professor of social psychology at the University of Nantes, who co-led the survey.
The diploma, a discordant criterion
The investigation finally reshuffles the cards on the recruitment process. And there, it is perhaps up to the candidates to question themselves. Because the latter still overwhelmingly think that diplomas are part of the criteria to be put forward to obtain a job, while employers declare that they put this aspect… in last position, behind personality, experience, or even availability and mobility. “During the interview, young people are above all looking for a sincere exchange,” adds Véronique Quéré, employment project manager at the CCI. They no longer really recognize themselves in the motivation letter, which appears formatted. »
The CCI indicates that the results of the study will allow it to better support companies in recruiting and retaining their workforce. Simple, basic.