Employers Report Generation Z Graduates Lack Workplace Readiness

Business leaders and HR professionals report that recent graduates from Generation Z lack the communication, professionalism, and critical thinking skills required to be workplace ready. According to surveys from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 75% of companies find some or all recent hires unsatisfactory, while 37% of HR leaders state they would prefer AI over a new graduate.

Glenn Fogel, CEO of Bookings Holdings, noted that young workers require more guidance on office norms, while former Whole Foods CEO John Mackey claimed that young people do not seem to want to work. Experts attribute these deficiencies to COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, increased screen time, and a decline in traditional rites of passage such as summer jobs.

While employers pressure colleges to emphasize career readiness, some analysts argue that companies have reduced training hours for entry-level staff since the 2000s. Jason Desentz, Chief Human Resources Officer at Toshiba, described training young people as a shared responsibility between companies and schools. Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, argued that colleges must prepare students for a changing economy.

In response, Dartmouth College restructured its Center for Professional Development into the Center for Career Design. This shift aims to help students navigate a job market influenced by generative AI, which has lowered the barrier for technical tasks and renewed interest in humanities degrees.