10 Fun Facts About Gen Z You Need to Know - Karen McCullough (2024)

What You Need to Know About Gen Z

Gen Z very recently entered the workforce, and they’re already expressing their opinions, rewriting workplace norms, making their Millennials colleagues feel old and a bit outdated.

Gen Z, with members born between 1997–2012, is 70 million in size, and they are the most diverse generation in U.S. history.

What is Gen Z Known For?

Did you know that Gen Z’ers are the true “digital natives” born into the era of Wi-Fi, Google and social media? They may be the true digital natives, but they also crave face-to-face connections. More than 90 percent of Generation Z prefer to have a human element to their work.

What are the values of Gen Z?

Gen Z is known for being resourceful, independent learners who value diversity and inclusive culture and place a priority on well-being and mental health in the workplace. They are fiscally conservative with a keen focus on investing and income. Gen Z values justice and equity. They have a heart for mission, and the drive to get it done.

In this article we will explore all the fun facts about Gen Z.

The first fact about Gen Z is that they are the most diverse generation in US history. As the population of the United States continues to grow, it’s becoming increasingly diverse. This shift has led to an increase in interracial and interethnic marriages and births.

But this demographic shift doesn’t just affect adults; it also has a major impact on future generations. Currently, more than half of all children in the U.S. are multiracial or biracial — and by 2043, that number is expected to rise to 60 percent.

As more people of different backgrounds choose to marry each other and have children, our society will become even more racially and ethnically diverse over time.

This no doubt contributes to the fact that diversity, equity, and inclusion are values highly held by Gen Z. The Washington Post states that diversity and inclusion in the workplace are no longer preferences; They are requirements.

While Gen Zers have many commonalities with millennials, they are also very different from them. Their values are more open to change and diversity, and their outlook on life is shaped by their experiences growing up in a time of rapid technological and cultural change.

As more and more of this generation enter the workplace, new characteristics and preferences will be discovered. It is going to be an adventure learning about them!

Another fun fact about Gen Z is that more than any other generation before them, Gen Z is known for looking to their employers to lend purpose and meaning to what they do. Gen Zers want to make the world a better place, and they want their employer to make the world a better place.

Before Gen Z accepts a job, they do their research, discovering the ethics and values of a company. Business ethics are the values a company upholds throughout its day-to-day operations. Ethical considerations include human rights, the climate and environment, and an inclusive culture.

Not only must companies have strong ethics, but they must also demonstrate they take action consistent with their ethics and values. In a recent study, 31% of Gen Z respondents said they would turn down a job if a company had poor sustainability and ethics.

Social media opened the door to sharing perspectives and engaging in discourse is common. Gen Z’ers are eager to share their ideas and opinions and have no problem challenging the status quo.

Gen Z has never known a time without social media. Social media allows Gen Zers to expand their horizons, cross borders, and become more educated on current social issues. Gen Z uses social media channels as their platform to evoke change.

Gen Z is known for standing up for their beliefs. Some attribute the Gen Z voice to the Parkland shootings. On February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami suburban town of Parkland, Florida, murdering 17 people while injuring 17.

Having come of age during the Great Recession, many saw their parents, relatives, and even their older brothers and sisters getting laid off, and they said that that’s not going to happen to them!

Today inflation and the threat of a looming recession, higher interest rates, and seeing their Millennial siblings struggling with college and financial debt continue to influence GenZ’s attitude towards money.

Deloitte’s Global 2022 study on Gen Z and Millennials found that 29% of Gen Z and 36% of Millennials say that the cost of day-to-day living, including groceries, housing, and transportation is their #1 concern.

Almost half of Gen Zs (46%) and millennials (47%) live paycheck to paycheck and worry they won’t be able to cover their monthly expenses. That said, Generation Z individuals who are between 18 and 25, prove to be more financially sophisticated than any previous generation was at their age.

Gen Z is now the most entrepreneurial generation ever, with 62 percent of Gen Zers indicating they have started—or intend to start—their own business. FromYouTube channelstobeauty products and , Gen Z is embracing entrepreneurship.

The reasons for that involve sweeping cultural and sociological trends. The key enablers of those next-gen founders will be modern digital technologies: Social networks that make reaching large audiences possible; knowledge platforms that teach valuable business skills; and the cloud, which makes it possible to build solutions quickly, flexibly, and cost-effectively.

The pandemic and the advance of digital technologies stimulated enthusiasm and a new wave of entrepreneurship, prompting Gen Z to start their own businesses. Social networks allow for. far reaching audience, business skills taught on knowledge platforms, flexibility, and low costs allow this generation to start their own businesses.

With Google, YouTube, and TikTok, they have the world at their fingertips and can figure things out for themselves without adult supervision. They’re the first generation that doesn’t need you (or any adult) for knowledge – they can get it online. Because they are finding their answers, they are doers and activists—they jump in and do—which means they may ask for your forgiveness rather than your permission.

Gen Z, the children of Gen X, value self-reliance and independence and are self-directed. They will likely learn a new skill from watching YouTube and Tik Tok. They are a “learn by doing” hands-on generation. This generation knows how to find the information needed to succeed and are adept researchers.

In addition to using YouTube, they love online educational resources such as TED Talks, Master Class, LinkedIn Learning, blogs, podcasts, etc.—they are all about the pursuit of knowledge.

This generation was born with the internet and social media; the experiences they encountered as children helped them gain early expertise with digital tools allowing them to be self-reliant as well as collaborative. Because they experienced people and cultures around the globe, they developed a greater appreciation for diversity and the importance of finding their own unique identities.

The American Psychology Association (APA) surveyed Americans aged 15 through 21 to determine the top stressors, life events, and diagnosis statistics that affect and define the nation’s youngest generation. APA’s report found the following statistics about Gen Z mental health:

• 75 percent of Gen Zers said that mass shootings are a significant source of stress.
• 57 percent of Gen Zers report feeling more stressed than adults about issues in the news, such as the deportation of immigrant and migrant families.
• 53 percent of Gen Zers report significant stress surrounding sexual harassment and assault reports.
• Gen Z is significantly more likely (27 percent) than other generations, including millennials (15 percent) and Gen Xers (13 percent), to report their mental health as fair or poor.

Gen Zers are changing the conversation around mental health are more likely to report mental health concerns than other generations. Because they grew up with social media, they are more open to sharing their personal stories and struggles.

Generation Z volunteers! Maybe they will vote? Time will tell.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is top of mind with every organization in the United States. The death of George Floyd catapulted DEI departments in all organizations large and small. If you go on the websites of any company today you will see bold statements on diversity and inclusion, and Gen Z is making sure they deliver on their promises.

They like their own space. They enjoy working alone on a project, and they do not appear to be as collaborative as the Millennials. And here’s some good or, maybe, bad news for parents.

Gen Z employees entering the workforce are incredibly competitive. Growing up in a competitive environment of academics and sports they bring this trait with them into the workplace.

They like their own space. Working in teams is not a negative issue for Gen Z employees, but that said, many younger employees prefer working alone on projects.

Working independently allows Gen Z to showcase their skills and abilities shining a light on their contributions. in addition, they are appreciation driven and like to receive credit for their work. The best way to motivate this generation is by appreciating and acknowledging their efforts.

To keep this generation motivated, encouraging healthy competition among employees can be productive. Recognize their hard work and encourage a culture of continuous feedback.

In Conclusion

We are seeing a generation that questions and is questioning things and forcing us to look in the mirror and challenge the status quo. They are our future. We don’t have to like or agree with everything they do and say, and I hope that some of us, sage “old ” can undoubtedly impart some wisdom on them, but the real magic happens when we both have open minds and learn from each other.