tic effect worldwide on the availability
of workforce talent. Add to that a skills
you have the makings of a global crisis. Some-
where between the corporate downsizing of
the 70s and 80s and the growing uncertainty
of the 90s, the natural order of work in the
life of a Gen Y (the four million Australians
born between 1980 and 1995) changed.
attitudes. They either want their work to
make a difference or feel that work makes no
difference at all.
difference. Refreshingly, the quest for mean-
ing and desire is not just some youthful, self-
serving grandiose plan to save the world. This
is cold, hard, goal-setting underscored by the
logic that says: `If I'm going to be doing this
fi ve-days-a-week then it better
be worth something.'
life, their `occupassion'. They
want to feel good about where
they work and know that
makes them feel good about
themselves.
dizzy heights of `careerdom',
and they want it now. The big issue for Aus-
tralia (and many other countries) is how to
manage their desires against what a country
our size can provide. I predict more Gen Ys
than ever will leave Australian shores to pur-
sue their dreams. The challenge will be to
bring them back! We don't have much future
as a knowledge nation if all our knowledge
resides elsewhere.
their lives. They simply see work as a part of
their life, not the be all and end all. Given Aus-
ing markets in the world it is little wonder
that four in ten Gen Ys do not believe home
ownership is achievable. No mortgage will
mean much more freedom.
about the workplace. They know loyalty and
tenure of employment is dead and that the
rules of engagement have changed.
Ask a Gen Y how long they expect
to stay in their job now, and
their horizon is horrifyingly
close...
sounds horrendous...'
store for us? On the down-
side, the skills shortage is
such that Gen Y can indulge
dom or stagnation
and simply move
on with no fear of
the consequences.
can get another job
easily. They want it all,
they want it handed to
them on a silver platter,
and they want it now.
But there are as many
as there are downsides. What presents now
as unquenchable desire and ego may well
result in the future as some of the best CEOs
this country has ever seen. Sure, they may
be in your face but treat them right and
they'll also be amongst the most commit-
ted, passionate, creative lateral thinkers in
your organisation.