For the first time in history in the US there are four generations in the workplace:
The mobile workforce (Millennials) are the first to embrace mobile technology and social media on a daily basis. They are generally more upbeat about all aspects of engagement than are Baby Boomers or members of Generation X, but are more positive about growth and development opportunities. Since 95% of Millennials are online, it's safe to say that being connected is a daily interest.
The technological advancement of the Millennials generation is a documented fact. It's not just their gadgets - it's the way they have fused their social lives into them. For example, 75% of Millennials have created a profile on a social networking site, compared with half of Xers, 30% of Boomers and 6% of Traditionalists.
Millennials are also more inclined to say technology makes life easier and brings family and friends closer together versus older adults. They use mobile phones, tablets, computers and social networks every day. Such technologies enable them to take all their networks, friends and data with them.
According to a new survey from the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future and Bovitz Inc., Millennials report more willingness to grant brands access to their personal data and how they share information with businesses online than older users - as long as they receive tangible benefits in return, including relevant web content and ads. Millennial workers are very confident in their technology skills. Two-thirds say when it comes to the use of technology, they're either "cutting edge" or in the upper tier. By comparison, 53 percent of Baby Boomers place themselves in the middle tier when it comes to use of technology.
Social media is another area where the generations differ. Social media has blurred the lines between work and personal lives for many Gen Y/Millennial employees. Though 64% of all employees surveyed believe that social media had adversely affected productivity at work, Millennials and Gen X workers feel that their social media savvy is an important part of their skill set for work when compared to baby boomer and traditionalist workers.