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Dell Technologies Gen Z Research Reveals Good News: We Haven’t Raised a Generation of Robots

Gen Zers are tech-savvy, but worry they lack needed soft skills and crave more human interaction; even so, senior professionals fear displacement by digital natives

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Nov. 8, 2018

News Summary

  • Digital natives reshaping the workforce: 80% of Gen Z aspire to work with cutting-edge technology and more than a third are interested in IT careers
  • Tech-savvy, but concerned about soft skills: 77% of Gen Zers are willing to serve as tech mentors on the job, yet 94% worry about having the right skills and experience
  • Five generations in the workplace: businesses must help workers find common ground

A new generation of digital natives is clocking in and their views on tech could reshape the workforce. Are you ready for #GenZ? https://dell.to/2Pw1cNy

In their own words

• Click here to see what Gen Zers are saying •

Generation Z is entering the workforce, bringing with it a tech-first mentality that will propel businesses further into the digital era while potentially deepening the divide among five generations in the workplace. According to global research commissioned by Dell Technologies, post-millennials – those born after 1996 and known as Gen Z – have a deep, universal understanding of technology and its potential to transform how we work and live.

“It’s almost a given that these digital natives have advanced technology and data science skills, but what is surprising is the level of digital maturity they are bringing to the workplace,” said Danny Cobb, corporate fellow and vice president of Technology Strategy, Dell Technologies. “Yet we haven’t raised a generation of robots. Gen Z sees technology not only as a tool for enabling human progress, but also as a means for leveling the information empowerment playing field. Their combination of vision and optimism is remarkable.”

The survey of more than 12,000 high school and college students in 17 countries reveals the younger generation’s outlook on technology and future jobs. Specifically:

  • 98% have used technology as part of their formal education
  • 91% say the technology offered by an employer would be a factor in choosing among similar job offers
  • 80% want to work with cutting-edge technology; of those 38% are interested in IT careers, 39% want to work in cybersecurity and 46% aspire to do technology research and development
  • 80% believe technology and automation will create a more equitable work environment by preventing bias and discrimination

An overwhelming 89% recognize that we are entering the age of human-machine partnerships: 51% of those surveyed believe that humans and machines will work as integrated teams, while 38% see machines as tools for humans to use as needed.

Lack of experience, potential generational rifts
While most Gen Zers are confident with their technical prowess, they also worry about having the soft skills and experience that employers are seeking. Seventy-three percent rate their technology literacy as good or excellent and 68% say they have above-average coding skills. Even more telling, 77% are willing to mentor an older coworker who may be less experienced with technology. Yet nearly all new grads (94%) have some concerns about future employment.

  • Only about half (57%) rate their education as good or excellent in preparing them for their careers
  • 52% are confident they have the tech skills employers want but not necessarily the non-tech skills

At the same time, senior professionals are concerned they are being outpaced and that a majority of leadership roles in the future will be filled by digital natives. According to previous Dell Technologies research, 87% of business leaders fear that their organizations will struggle to offer equal opportunities across generations.1

With up to five generations now in the workplace, businesses must help workers find common ground as they push to create a digital-first culture. Cross-functional teams with complementary skillsets can encourage knowledge exchange and a fresh approach to problem-solving. Internships, rotation programs and other early-career development opportunities can help young professionals gain experience and develop soft skills on the job. And reverse mentorship programs can enhance technical competencies throughout an organization, with Gen Z leading the way.

“At Draper, we thrive on cross-discipline collaboration. It’s not unusual for us to bring together military experts, rocket scientists and students from area universities to solve some of the world’s most complex challenges,” said Mike Crones, CIO at Draper. “In these scenarios, the student provides a unique perspective to solution development. Many of the technologies we work on are highly interactive and Gen Z brings a curious, user-first approach that we might not otherwise consider.”

The human element
Although they have interacted with electronic devices practically since birth and grew up with social media, Gen Z yearns for more human interaction in the workplace.

  • In-person communication (43%) is the preferred method for communicating with coworkers, followed by phone (21%); messaging apps and texting ranked last
  • 75% expect to learn on the job from coworkers or other people – not online
  • 82% say that social media can be a valuable tool in the workplace
  • More than half (53%) prefer to go to a workplace versus working from home and 58% prefer to work as part of team rather than independently

“Today’s young professionals grew up in a collaborative educational environment and they are bringing those same expectations to the workplace,” said Maribel Lopez, technology industry analyst and strategic advisor at Lopez Research. “Though face-to-face communication isn’t always possible in today’s modern workplace, immersive technologies are enabling all types of workers to collaborate in both the physical and virtual worlds.”

Added Cobb, “Ultimately, those organizations that create a workforce in which all generations are supported will thrive in the era of human-machine partnerships. An integrated workforce is an empowered workforce, one that can help their organizations transform and succeed in the digital future.”

Additional resources

About the study
This study was commissioned by Dell Technologies and undertaken by an independent research firm. From August to September 2018, Dimensional Research conducted an online survey of students attending secondary and post-secondary school in 17 countries around the globe. The survey was translated into 12 languages and more than 12,000 individuals aged 16-23 completed the survey. The study is one of the largest of its kind to gather hard data on current attitudes and opinions on technology and the workplace among Generation Z students who will be entering the workforce in the coming years.

About Dimensional Research
Dimensional Research provides practical market research to help technology companies make their customers more successful. Our researchers are experts in the applications, devices, and infrastructure used by modern businesses. We understand how corporate IT and technology organizations operate to meet the needs of their business stakeholders. We partner with our clients to deliver actionable information that reduces risks, increases customer satisfaction, and grows the business. For more information, visit dimensionalresearch.com.

About Dell Technologies
Dell Technologies is a unique family of businesses that provides the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important asset, information. The company services customers of all sizes across 180 countries – ranging from 98 percent of the Fortune 500 to individual consumers – with the industry’s most comprehensive and innovative portfolio from the edge to the core to the cloud.

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1 Realizing 2030, Dell Technologies, January 2018

Thobani Nxumalo

Thobani Nxumalo, age 21, actuarial mathematics major from Johannesburg (South Africa)
“There is a greater focus now on having the ability to use modern technology and also being open to learning new types of technology and being able to adapt with the trends.“

Jake Zimmer

Jake Zimmer, age 21, management major/sociology minor from Connecticut (USA)
“Having the latest technology at work is pretty much everything. As someone about to enter the workforce, I want every opportunity to gain exposure to the latest technology and really have a deep understanding that’s going to put me ahead in the long run.”

Kasheka Chitkara

Kasheka Chitkara, age 21, management major/information systems and analytics minor from Massachusetts (USA)
"The more technology you are familiar with, the more of an asset you can be to a company."

Jahnavi Muppaneni

Jahnavi Muppaneni, age 22, corporate communications and journalism major from Texas (USA)
“There were some soft skills I had to learn on my own such as critical thinking and interacting with team members. That is something that is downplayed when we focus so much on using technology. We lose the interaction that we need to have with teammates and customers.”

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