The HR Dictionary

Generation Y

The demographic group known as millennials, often referred to as Generation Y or Gen Y, comes after Generation X and comes before Generation Z. The generation is often characterized as persons born between 1981 and 1996, with the early 1980s being used as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as ending birth years.  The majority of millennials are descendants of older Generation X and baby boomers. The phrase is frequently credited to Neil Howe and William Strauss, authors of the 1991 book Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 through 2069. 

Characteristics of Generation Y

Even though every person has a distinct personality, many members of the same generation have similar traits. These are some characteristics of millennials that you might anticipate in the workplace:

  • The first generation to grow up using the internet, mobile devices, and digital communication are Generation Y. People who were tech-savvy from an early age are known as ‘digital natives.’ The newest software releases are easy for these professionals to understand and use at work.
  • Many millennials favor flexible work hours and working environments. Since many millennials work in computer-related fields, they might look for jobs that at least partially allow them to work remotely and outside of the typical 9 to 5 schedule.
  • Millennials typically look for jobs where they can maintain a healthy work-life balance. They favor careers that provide them more time to spend with their families and/or pursue their personal objectives.
  • The fact that millennials prioritize results is another factor in why they prefer freedom. Instead of telling you how long they worked, they would rather share what they accomplished.
  • Many members of Generation Y are creative and seek out new approaches to efficiency. They frequently enquire about a rule or a set procedure in order to better grasp how to make improvements.