Gen Z revealed as the unhappiest, with the highest flight risk

Research shows half of employers believe that Generation Z is not entering the workplace well-equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for their roles.

Gen Z employees in Australia currently have the lowest employee engagement score

The world’s largest live employee engagement data platform, WorkL, which powers The Australian’s Best Places to Work 2024 Awards, reveals that half of employers believe that Generation Z is not entering the workplace well-equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for their roles.

The annual WorkL Global Workforce Report 2024, which was published in Q1 of 2024 found that mentoring initiatives are being implemented by employers to support Gen Z, with four in 10 employers taking the step.

Having been significantly impacted by the global pandemic and the shift in traditional working practices, WorkL has seen a falling engagement score for the youngest demographic over the last 12 months; decreasing from 71 per cent in 2021 down to just 67 per cent in 2023, a concerning four percentage point decrease and the lowest score out of all age groups.

A generation who most likely entered the workforce and were then either furloughed or fired, are now also facing economic challenges including a tough property rental market.

WorkL’s 2024 report provides a global outlook on the state of people’s working lives throughout the last year. Data from over 300,000 employees across the world has been used to provide insight into how happy people are at work and, importantly, what employers can do to support their workforce.

Gen Z employees in Australia currently have the lowest employee engagement score compared to all other age groups – 69 per cent compared to the Australian average of 71 per cent. This age group also has the second highest Flight Risk score of 27 per cent, 2 percentage points higher than the Australian average. Again, it is Gen Z employees who have the highest Wellbeing Risk, scoring 33 per cent – 4 per cent higher than Australia’s average of 29 per cent.

The data comes as The Australian, The Best Places to Work 2024 awards mark just over two months until the awards close.

Organisations across the country are being encouraged to enter with the chance of being included within the prestigious list which will help businesses attract and retain talent. Businesses entering will not only understand their own Flight Risk score, but understand their organisation’s overall engagement score, their Confidence in Management indicator, Diversity & Inclusion Indicator, NPS, their Six Steps to Workplace Engagement Scores and have their data benchmarked against global and industry scores.

Those opting for the enhanced option when entering will receive their own personalised Instant Action Planning, Action plans around WorkL’s Six Steps to Workplace Happiness, Heatmaps on all WorkL standard questions and the ability to filter results by several demographics such as age, gender, ethnicity and length of service.

The survey which entrants will send to their employees via a personalised link, features 35 questions centred around WorkL’s widely approved employee engagement theory: Six Steps to Workplace Happiness, which includes Reward & Recognition, which are integral to retaining talent. Developed by behavioural scientists, data analysts, psychologists, business leaders, academics and other independent parties, the survey accurately monitors employee engagement and wellbeing in the workplace.

To achieve a high overall engagement score, a company must consistently perform well across its six-step framework, encompassing: Reward and Recognition, Instilling Pride, Information Sharing, Empowerment, Wellbeing and Job Satisfaction. Each of WorkL’s Six Steps consists of between three and five key elements, which are measured on a 0-10 scale.

The awards will recognise organisations with the highest levels of employee engagement, wellbeing and satisfaction and businesses will be recognised by company size and by the following categories as well:

● Best small place to work

● Best medium place to work

● Best big place to work

● Best very big place to work

● Best places to work for women

● Best places to work for ethnic minority employees

● Best places to work for disabled employees

● Best places to work for age
ranges 16-34 and 55+

● Best places to work for LGBTQ+ employees

● Best places to work for employee wellbeing

The deadline for survey submissions is May 31, 2024.

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The last date to enter The Australian Best Places to Work and submit your survey is May 31. Don’t miss out!

Visit business.workl.co/workplace-awards/the-australian-au to enter. To find out more, contact [e-mail]

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