A study commissioned by Dell EMC Inc. reveals that members belonging to the Generation Z, or Gen Z, who are entering the work force are bringing with them a technology-first mentality. This mentality will propel business further into the digital era while potentially deepening the divide among five generations in the workplace, a statement by Dell EMC said.
The research considers Gen Z as the post-millennials—those born after 1996, and have a deep, universal understanding of technology and its potential to transform how we work and live. The study found that Filipino Gen Zs have the most confidence in their technology skills among their peers in Southeast Asia (SEA) and globally: Philippines, 68 percent; SEA, 62 percent; and, global, 52 percent. These Gen Z Filipinos are optimistic that they have the technology skills employers need.
“While digital transformation journey in the country is unique for every business, this survey shows that Filipino youth are ready to be part of and shape that journey,” Dell EMC Philippines Country General Manager Ronnie Latinazo was quoted in a statement. “It is a very encouraging development but also creating challenges for these businesses as they need to have the right strategy and technology to invite the right talents, while at the same time find common ground for multigeneration workers in the workplace.”
The study was undertaken by independent research firm Dimensional Research from August to September. The firm 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 to 23 completed the survey.
According to Dell EMC, 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 Gen Z students who will be entering the work force in the coming years.
Philippines
ACCORDING to Dell EMC, the study looked into 730 Filipino high-school and college students. Globally, more than 12,000 high-school and college students in 17 countries were interviewed. A total of 4,331 students across six Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia also participated in this study.
The study revealed young Filipinos ranked the highest in almost all of the study’s research categories:
- 88 percent want to work with cutting-edge technology; (SEA: 90 percent; global: 80 percent);
- 40 percent are interested in IT careers (SEA: 43 percent; global: 38 percent);
- 60 percent aspire to be involved in technology research and development (SEA: 53 percent; Global: 46 percent);
- 97 percent say the technology offered by an employer would be a factor in choosing between similar job offers; and,
- 100 percent have used technology as part of their formal education.
Mentality
THE Gen Z research revealed the Philippines is one out of two countries that implemented technology as part of formal education, with 76 percent of Filipino students rating their education as “good” or “excellent” in preparing them for the workplace.
“It’s almost a given that this new pool of talents has advanced technology and data science skills, but what is surprising is the level of digital maturity they are bringing to the workplace,” Pang Yee Beng, senior vice president, Commercial Business, South Asia & Korea, Dell EMC, said. “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.”
Gen Z Filipinos have a technology-first mentality but also seek more than just money for their work.
About 84 percent of respondents believe technology and automation will create a more equitable work environment by preventing bias and discrimination. Sixty percent want jobs that allow them to use technology to help others or the environment, the study revealed.
About 67 percent believe their work must give them refreshed skill sets and new experiences on the job. The study revealed that 53 percent want to work for an organization that is socially and environmentally responsible.
Ex-machina
RATHER than being replaced by machines, an overwhelming 94 percent of Filipino respondents recognize that we are entering the age of human-machine partnerships. About 35 percent of Filipino youth believe that humans and machines will work as integrated teams, while 59 percent see machines as tools for humans to use as needed.
“In the age of human-machine partnerships, all businesses must come up with strategies to seamlessly integrate humans and technologies to thrive,” Latinazo said. “Organizations must adopt an approach that can harness the tremendous potential of emerging technologies, increased connectivity and processing power, with the ability to manage and protect vast amounts of data. This technology must go hand-in-hand with a digitally adept and highly able work force in order to fully realize digital transformation.”
Although they have interacted with electronic devices practically since birth and grown up with social media, Filipino Gen Z-ers still yearn for human interaction in the workplace.
- Interpersonal communication and collaboration are very important for Filipino Gen Z-ers with 77 percent expecting to learn on the job from coworkers or other people—not online.
- 53 percent said in-person communication is the preferred method for communicating with coworkers, compared to phone (18 percent) or messaging apps and texting (10 percent).
- 91 percent say that social media can be a valuable tool in the workplace.
- 60 percent prefer to go to a workplace versus working from home, and 74 percent 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,” Pang said. “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.”
Rifts
DESPITE Filipino Gen Z-ers being the region’s most confident respondents in their technology skills, they are also the most worried about their employability (96 percent).
Sixty percent of respondents said they lack the working experience employers look for. About 68 percent are confident they have the technological skills that employers want but not necessarily the nontech skills.
At the same time and by contrast, senior professionals are concerned they are being outpaced and that a majority of leadership roles in the future will be filled by digital natives. With up to five generations now in the workplace, businesses must help workers find a common ground while they push to create a digital-first culture.
“When it comes to welcoming Generation Z to the workplace, organizations need to rise to the challenge of creating a digital-first environment—from the hiring process, to onboarding, to the daily work experience,” Pang said. “Understanding the skills that this generation possesses can open up new opportunities for businesses—and especially if those skills can be successfully democratized across the work force, narrowing the digital divide among employees and strengthening technological capabilities overall.”
Among the Filipino youth respondents, 86 percent would be willing to mentor an older coworker who was not as comfortable with technology. Up to five generations are now in the workplace and businesses must help workers find a common ground as they push to create a digital-first culture.
With Gen Z willing to be tech ambassadors, organizations can create cross-functional teams with complementary skill sets to encourage knowledge exchange and initiate 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.
Image credits: Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com, Dell Technologies