Gen Z in the labor force

 

School, county, and business leaders gathered in the media commons at Goochland High School on May 3 for the spring business and education roundtable. These sessions are held twice a year to share information about local workforce needs and school programs.

Bruce Watson, Director of the GCPS career and technical education department (CTE), declared that he has “the best job in the school system” in his welcoming remarks.

Recognizing that students have differing gifts, CTE is an integral part of the goal of “maximizing the potential of every learner” that guides our school division. Opportunities to learn about career and technical skills are woven into the fabric of the curriculum so students can explore a wide range of jobs and life skills.

Watson thanked the local businesses who work with the CTE program in many ways, from explaining what they do on career days to offering internships. “You never know what impact a visit to your company will have on a student.”

Sara Worley, Director of Economic Development for the county, explained that her job is to create wealth by attracting investment to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.  Areas being “targeted” by economic development include the food and beverage industry, Goochland has 10 craft breweries; controlled environment agriculture like Greenswell Growers (https://greenswellgrowers.com/);  health and life sciences; and logistics. Collaboration with the CTE program helps to ensure a supply of appropriately trained employees for companies moving to Goochland.

Employees are the life blood of all companies. Successful navigation of generational changes of those entering the workforce, was explored.

Kelsey Fisher, a GHS counselor delved into Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2012— and how their world view fits into the workplace.

Bruce Watson and Kelsey Fisher explore Gen Z

Gen Z are digital natives. They grew up with the internet and do not remember a world without smart phones. They are used to having a world of information at their fingertips; but so much screen time has left them with underdeveloped social skills. They do not remember the September 11 attacks but grew up with a country continually at war and worry about security. They are the most ethnically and racially diverse generation and the last to be mostly white. They are highly educated but believe that trade schools offer a viable alternative to pricey higher education and that manufacturing jobs offer promising careers.

Fisher said that as a school counselor, she helps students explore career paths that do not include a traditional four-year college degree and talks about debt.

Chance Robinson, newly hired county Economic Development Coordinator, shared his perspective as a Gen Z in the workplace.

 Two major economic downturns in recent memory, the Great Recession and Covid layoffs shape how GenZ views jobs. Many, having grown up with workaholic parents, care more about the quality of their lives. They care very much about their mental health and believe that sick and mental health days should be interchangeable, so they can have time to recharge and reboot.

Gen Z dislikes lack of efficiency and wants to be part of a meaningful outcome. This cohort values flexibility in work schedules. They are risk averse but want opportunities to grow in their careers and see job hopping as a faster way to advance. They view job satisfaction as more important than high salaries and participate in the “gig economy” for extra cash.

While Gen Z is very tech savvy and solves problems in a different way from previous generations, their lack of soft skills can be problematical, said Robinson. They communicate via text, have never written letters, so cannot compose emails and need some guidance. Gen Z will respond to “being pushed” to higher achievement if they understand why.

Watson said that teaching soft skills is an integral part of the CTE program. This includes mock interview sessions where representatives of local businesses work with students. Job shadowing, where students spend time learning about a particular job, also offers valuable insight into career opportunities.

As a small school division, Watson said, our CTE program is able to pivot to address the needs of local businesses in course offerings. “We are ready to fill the skills gap.”

Many graduates of Goochland’s CTE program are currently working locally in skilled jobs, with robust salaries.

Go to https://www.goochlandschools.org/page/career-and-technical-education for more information about our superb CTE program.

To contact Watson about the program, job shadowing or internships go to bwatson@glnd.k12.va.us