Employee Engagement Differences Across Generations

March 31, 2008
Turns out younger employees, (28-42) are engaged at work after all.

Contrary to much that has been written about the differences between generations regarding their attitudes toward work and their engagement in their jobs, these variations are actually relatively small, according to research just completed by Sirota Survey Intelligence, specialists in attitude research.

With the exception of employees age 63 and older, the differences between employees levels of engagement in their jobs are fairly narrow, said Douglas Klein, President of Sirota Survey Intelligence.

Our research dispels the myths about younger employees being more disengaged from their jobs. It also refutes the contention that Generation X employees (ages 28-42) are the most cynical of age groups, added Klein.

Sirota conducted a major study of cross-generational attitudes of more than 300,000 workers in over 50 organizations that the employee attitude research firm surveyed during 2006 and 2007.

The study encompassed four generational groups:

  • Generation Y ages 27 and younger
  • Generation X ages 28-42
  • Baby Boomers ages 43-62
  • Traditionalists ages 63 and older

The research included employees overall satisfaction with their jobs, pride in working for their employers, whether they would recommend their organizations as a place to work, and their willingness to put forth extra effort. Their responses collectively comprised an index of employee engagement.

Employees of the Traditionalist generation (ages 63 and older) are the most engaged in their jobs overall, with an 84% employee engagement level. The engagement levels of the other groups are within a relatively narrow range of 77%-80%, according to the study.

Levels of employee engagement by generation, according to the study, are:

-Traditionalists 84% employee engagement level
-Baby Boomers 77% employee engagement level
-Generation X 78% employee engagement level
-Generation Y 80% employee engagement level


Overall employee engagement levels according to tenure are:

-One year or less tenure 83% employee engagement level
-1-2 years tenure 79% employee engagement level
-2-5 years tenure 75% employee engagement level
-6-10 years tenure 76% employee engagement level
-10 or more years tenure 79% employee engagement level

The research demonstrates that, although an overwhelming majority of new employees are enthusiastic when starting a job, there is a measurable decline in their morale after the first year (often after the first 6 months), which continues through the 5th year.

Many new employees begin losing their enthusiasm for their new jobs regardless of how old they are, said Klein. Employees continued or maintained level of engagement depends on how well management meets their needs and expectations during their time with their employers.

Employees engagement level typically begins to recover after they have been with their employers for 6 years or more.

Reflecting on these results, Klein notes that traditionalists (age 63 and older) may be an overlooked resource for employers. They consistently have higher employee engagement levels than other employees with comparable tenure. For example, Traditionalists with between 2-5 years tenure have an engagement level of 85% -- 10 percentage points higher than that for Generation Y and Baby Boomers (75%), and 9 percentage points higher than that for Generation X (76%).

With more people living healthy, active lifestyles, and so many Traditionalists uncertain whether they will have the financial resources to enable them to retire, they may want to stay in the workforce longer. Employers may want to consider part-time and/or flexible work arrangements to keep more of these loyal, enthusiastic workers onboard, Klein added.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!