Easy adaptation to change and the flow of activities doesn’t seem to suit those born after 1997. According to a survey published firsthand by the newspaper Valor Econômico, Generation Z has lower rates than older people regarding flexibility.

The data comes from an unprecedented survey by Talent Academy, a human resources solutions startup, carried out between August 2020 and August 2023 with 4,859 employees in medium and large companies.

In addition to flexibility, Gen Z also lags behind previous generations in terms of resilience. On a scale of 0 to 100, Gen Z professionals score 57 in resilience – a skill that consists of understanding the moment at work and demonstrating effectiveness in crisis circumstances. The study also looked at leadership skills. In this regard, baby boomers stand out, ahead of Generation X, Y and Z.

“It’s clear that younger people with less professional experience haven’t developed all the skills needed to take on positions of command, nor are they expected to,” Renata Betti, co-founder and CMO of Talent Academy, told the newspaper. “Therefore, the results may suggest a potential challenge for companies that have a younger leadership layer and need to develop interpersonal skills.”

Resilience (Scale 0-100):

• Z: 57
• Y: 62
• X: 64
• Baby Boomers: 65

Flexibility:

• Z: 56
• Y: 61
• X: 61
• Baby Boomers: 61

Leadership:

• Z: 46
• Y: 54
• X: 58
• Baby Boomers: 60

Of the total surveyed, the majority are men (51.8%), have completed higher education or postgraduate studies (55.9%), with 30.4% in decision-making positions. By age group, it includes members of generation Y (40%), Z (38%), X (20%) and baby boomers (1%).

—

Source: Valor Econômico