Salesforce Research Uncovers an Unexpected Skill Gap Among Gen Z Workers

Gen Z (zoomers) is the first generation of people adept at digital skills; most of these young men and women cannot recall a world without the Internet. No matter what preconceived notions other generations have about Gen Z, it’s heartening to hear that a substantial number of zoomers (32 percent) who are either a part of the current or future workforce are confident about their digital savviness when it comes to the skills they need.

The CRM giant Salesforce conducted the Global Digital Skills Index 2022 survey that quizzed 23,000 workers in 19 countries. Participants were asked various questions related to access to learning resources, preparedness, participation in training programs and skill level.

And the findings from this survey are surprising. It reveals people born between 1997 and 2002 are constantly pursuing education and training opportunities to equip themselves with the right digital skills.

Given that people belonging to Gen Z will constitute 27 percent of the global workforce by 2025, organizations across industries need to reimagine their training and hiring processes to fill in gaps.

Gen Z Struggles to Navigate Careers in the Digital World

The question of the hour is why a generation that considers itself ’digital native’ feels left behind in this rapidly transforming world? According to one theory (which I feel makes sense), the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in Gen Z workers getting disconnected from their senior colleagues. This led them to miss out on learning and mentorship opportunities they required to survive and excel at the workplace.

As we dig deeper into the survey, we find that a mere quarter of the Gen Z workforce claims to have expertise in sustainability-focused skills and coding. Gen Z is the only generation that believes AI will be one of the five skills that will be in hot demand in the next five years. However, only a fraction (17%) of zoomers perceive that they possess advanced-level AI-digital skills.

Gen Z Charts New Trails to Enter the Digital Workforce

Earlier, obtaining a corporate job without a formal degree was almost impossible. With the pandemic setting in, it pushed zoomers into reasoning whether pursuing a degree is a financially feasible and opportune step to take.

Given this, businesses looking to hire people with a bachelor’s degree are left with a small talent pool. So, how can firms expand their reach to hire the right talent? They need to change their mindset from hiring those with a college degree to those who have adopted alternate learning paths.

The Salesforce survey reveals that about one-third of the incoming Gen Z workforce is actively acquiring critical digital skills. The study also shows that this future workforce is ready to take over new roles and pursue career paths that have not been pursued by the earlier generations.

Being a knowledge-hungry generation, Gen Z is showing the global workforce that one can chart their career path with certifications, non-traditional life experiences and self-taught skills. By bracing themselves up with the right resources, companies can tap into a pool of talent that is hungry to learn in-demand skills required to succeed in the digitally knit world. Thus, they can leverage a strong workforce that is ready to adapt itself to the forthcoming evolution of the workplace.