Just one in four believes the year ahead will see an improvement politically and again a minority- only one in three believe we will see an uptick economically.
Where’s our share?
While it is little surprise that their number one concern is terrorism/political tension (56% are concerned), the second biggest concern (43%) is income inequality.
There is a strong feeling amongst Generation Y (Millennials) that they are being left behind in this era of flat wages growth and massive home and living cost increases.
Our recent ABS income and wealth analysis shows that Gen Y as a whole have 7% of Australia’s private wealth while they are more than twice this (15%) of the population while the older Boomers have an economic share three times that of their population share.
There is a growing series of forecasts indicating that this may well be the first generation since the Great Depression which will end up behind their parents economically.
Big challenges but are they too big…
This study shows that Millennials, particularly in the developed world feel somewhat disempowered with a sense of high responsibility yet low influence to shape the challenges of the environment, social equality and direction of the country.
They are key contributors to society and believe that working within the system rather than radically fighting against it in a revolutionary approach is the best way forward.
Moving on…but to full time roles
Almost 1 in 2 (48%) expect to leave their current role within 2 years while less than 1 in 3 (31%) plan on still being there in five years.
While the gig economy sounds exciting, almost three times as many (70%) would prefer full time work than a freelance work life (25%).
Yet the challenge for Australian Gen Y’s is that while unemployment is still quite low (5.7%), the workforce is trending away from full time roles. In the last year, the Australian economy has added 130,000 part time roles but lost 40,000 full time roles.
The dot com kids see the downside of tech
Millennials are more negative than positive when it comes to technology particularly regarding the impacts it is having in the workforce. While it aids productivity, economic growth and flexibility, the majority of this generation believe that it will force them to retrain (51%) and that it is making the workplace more impersonal and less human (53%).
But they are warm towards Gen Z
The new next generation (Gen Z, born since 1995) is well regarded by Gen Y with most Y’s (53%) believing that the next generation will positively transform the workplace.
They also believe that Gen Z are well equipped and “futureproofed” in the workplace because of their creativity, flexibility and engaging leadership style.
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