Gen Z ‘Digital Natives’ are starting to drive workplace technology decisions

Zoomers – aka Gen Z, the newest generation to enter the workforce – are already having an impact on employers’ technology problem-solving and purchasing decisions, according to new research from Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation.

“Gen Z grew up with technology in hand, and as they begin their careers, they aspire to do meaningful work,” says Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. “It’s becoming increasingly important for organizations to leverage technologies that help all employees to perform at their best. One of the best ways to do that is with a process management and automation platform like Nintex, which makes it fast and easy to manage, automate and optimize any business process, simple or sophisticated, across the entire enterprise.”

The Gen Z effect

Nintex’s research findings are contained in a series of reports titled “The Gen Z Effect” that examine the career drivers and values of Gen Z employees in four geographic regions: Australia, New Zealand, United States, and the United Kingdom.

The findings are contained in three reports:

• The Gen Z Effect on the U.S. Workplace
• The Gen Z Effect on Workplaces in the UK
• The Gen Z Effect in Australia and New Zealand

A key finding is that Gen Z, the first digitally native generation in the workforce, can be considered the office’s resident tech expert. In fact, 70 percent of Gen Z employees report that they have been approached by a senior team member to fix a technology problem, and 80 percent of decision-makers say they have selected a technology tool suggested by a Gen Z employee.

Other findings show that Zoomers are thoughtful and driven, with 63% saying they selected a college major due to “personal interest” rather than career prospects. Still, half of Zoomers expect a promotion within their first year on the job.

The research also highlights how Gen Z’s attitudes differ by region as to salary, company culture, career advancement, and automation. U.S. respondents rank “salary and company culture” as the biggest factor in making a job decision, while UK Zoomers value “work flexibility ahead of salary and work-life balance”. In New Zealand and Australia, “salary and company values” top the list.

While Gen Z shares high digital know-how and comfort with technology across all four geographies, their concerns about workplace automation vary widely from region to region. Fifty-seven percent of Gen Z in the U.S. are concerned that AI and automation will cost them their jobs, compared to 30 percent in the U.K. and 43 percent in New Zealand and Australia.

In regard to Gen Z’s commitment to an employer, 31 percent of Gen Z in the UK and the U.S. and 29 percent in New Zealand and Australia plan to leave a job after just one year.

To review the full findings from Nintex’s “The Gen Z Effect” study, downloadable ebooks are available on Nintex.com for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.