So far, his history timeline includes the release on Nelson Mandela and the advent of a democratic South Africa. Internationally ,according to Sophia Yan, arts editor at ‘the Oberlin Review’ (“Understanding Generation Y“), he lived through 9/11 terrorist attacks, Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean Tsunami and the Columbine High School shooting..
Depending whose analysis you are reading, Generation Y (“Yers” – pronounced “wires”) are people born between 1975 and 1995, 1977 and 2002, and 1978 and 1990, to mention a few.
Researching generations (Generation X, or Xers, were born roughly between 1965 and 1976, and Generation Y, who follows them) is what Bruce Tulgan and colleague Dr. Carolyn Martin do. They run a thriving research and training centre called RainMaking. In an article titled “Managing the Generation Mix 2016“, they observe how the various generations make up the US workforce:
TOTAL 150 million ……………………………….PERCENTAGES
Generation Y (born 1978-1990)……………………. 22.5%
Generation X (1965-77) …………………………..29.5%
Baby Boomers (1946-64) …………………………..41.5%
Schwarzkopf Generation (born before 1946) …………..6.5%
Yers may take up a quarter of the American workforce, but their influence is evident way beyond the proportional ‘share of market’ they hold.
Dr. Larry Rosen, who wrote books like “Mental Health Technology Bible” and “http://www.technostress.com/” argues in an interview for eWeek.com that Yers are substantially different from previous generations. Firstly – they have been surrounding by technology all their lives. Unlike their parents and the people who employ Yers, for them, technology “just is.”
Secondly, according to the eWeek piece, Yers’ personality is different: they grew through the economic boom (Western world, surely, RNN) that guaranteed them a life of luxury. They are opinionated about the kind of work they want and the money they intend earning. Generation Y expert Peter Sheahan says that “Generation Y want a life. They work to live, not live to work … Yet to maximise the return on investment for the firm, management want maximum hours from their Generation Y employees, who will not be prepared to do it.”
Lastly, according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project study, of the 53 percent of U.S. adults who said they visited a library in 2016, the biggest users were young adults aged 18 to 30 in the tech-loving group known as Generation Y.
OK… now, my daughter is ‘pure’ Generation Z, aka’ed in the Urban Dictionary as “generation 9/11 because generation z starts with everyone born between 2001 and 2021.” eZine MarketingVOX licks its digital lips with “Generation Z … will be the most connected generation that has ever walked this planet.”
Can’t wait.