As self-proclaimed champions of the future workforce, we couldn’t be more excited to kick off celebrations for International Youth Day 2024! As many of you know, our main goal is connecting today’s youth with inspiring employers who are ready to help launch their careers. In short, empowering tomorrow’s workforce!
We really do believe that youth have the power to shape workplaces of the future (even though it sounds a little cliché), so we can’t wait to dedicate the 12th of August to celebrating our future changemakers. The best part: we’re taking you along for the ride!
What is International Youth Day?
International Youth Day (otherwise referred to as World Youth Day) is an initiative brought forth by the United Nations. The day is all about platforming youth-centric issues and celebrating the potential of our younger generations and the incredible change that they’re making at such young ages!
Every 12th of August since way back in 1998, the UN has been celebrating International Youth Day and attempting to shape a more sustainable, inclusive and uplifting future for everyone. If you ask us, it’s a pretty exciting initiative to get behind!
Demystifying This Year’s Theme
With each International Youth Day comes a unique theme that’s relevant to current times and youth issues. This year, that theme is ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.’
While the title is a bit of a mouthful, it’s packed with insights into the digital frontier that today’s youth are at the forefront of! According to the United Nations, young people are “leading the charge in digital adoption and innovation” and are pushing forth digitised initiatives that work towards a better tomorrow.
Why is International Youth Day Important?
Simply put, International Youth Day is important because our future generations are important! To better illustrate the impact of today’s youth on the world, just check out these statistics:
- Half of the people on our planet are under 30 years old
- 67% of people believe in a better future (and those between 15-17 are some of the most optimistic)
- 69% of people believe that young people should have more of a say in policy development and change in political systems
How Gen Z is Ruling the Workplace
If those compelling statistics have left you hungry for more, we think it’s time you take a look at how Gen Z is set to rule the future workforce. According to Jobs for the Future, Gen Z will make up a whopping one-third of the U.S. workforce by 2030, and what’s more, they’re on track to be the most educated generation to date!
Gen Z’s Workplace Strengths
Continuing on from our last point, Gen Z also possesses some unique (and super valuable) skills that set them apart from other generations. In short, they’re able to enact positive change because:
Gen Z is Incredibly Adaptable
This one comes as no surprise. After all, Gen Z has grown up in a rapidly changing world with tonnes of technological advances and cultural shifts. Yet, despite the lack of stability, they’ve been able to effectively shift and adapt to the times. This is great news for employers, as their adaptability will be a massive help in the workplace, too.
Gen Z Knows How to Take Initiative
Many young Gen Z’ers have adopted an ‘I’ll figure it out myself’ kind of mindset. With resources like Google, Chat GPT, and YouTube at their fingertips, they’ve morphed into a DIY generation who can teach themselves new skills at the drop of a hat!
Gen Z Wants to Make a Difference
While Gen Z values high-paying roles (especially in the current economy and in light of COVID-19 when so many people were laid off), they also want to commit to purposeful work. Their personal values dictate where they seek employment, as they want to make sure they can make a difference in their roles. It’s inspirational stuff!
Gen Z Cares About Work-Life Balance
We’ve all seen the memes about Gen Z ensuring that everyone’s taking their designated lunch break, clocking off early and enjoying their time at work, and, as far as we can tell, they’re not far off. Gen Z knows that their personal lives can’t be neglected, regardless of their career success, and so they’re developing a healthier balance between work and play.
Gen Z Values Positive Workplace Cultures
Gen Z loves saying no to nasty workplace gossip, taking time to forge positive relationships with their team, and helping out where needed. If these positive workplace relationships result in team bonding exercises and dinners out, all the better!
Incoming Trends for the Future of Employment
To connect with the future workforce, who, as we can see, know what they want and aren’t afraid to get it, employers need to understand what to prioritise when targeting the attention of Gen Z. From our research, these key priorities are what stand out most to young job hunters:
- Positive, employee-centric corporate cultures
- Potential career progression and upskilling opportunities
- Inclusive and unbiased hiring practices
- Innovation, technology and ethics being prioritised
- Mentoring and support from higher-ups
Celebrate International Youth Day by Checking Out Our Youth-Centric Career Resources
If you ask us, one of the best ways to celebrate International Youth Day is by educating yourself on the current job market and how today’s youth are breaking in. To do just that, head on over to our career advice page today!
