These are the Key Differences Between Millennials Vs. Gen Z

According to the Pew Research Center, Millennials are any person born between the years of 1981 and 1996, while Gen Z is anyone born between 1997 and 2012. These two groups represent different generations, and generational differences can be quite stark even between subsequent generations. Studies show that millennials and Gen Zers differ in the workplace, customer service expectations, and many other facets of life. Thus, understanding the differences between millennials and Gen Zers can help people who have to interact with both groups better make accommodations, retain talent, and improve workplace cooperation. Here are some key differences between millennials and Gen Z.

To understand the differences between millennials and Gen Zers, we looked a rigorous studies and surveys published online that detailed differences in thinking and behavior between the two groups. We focused on studies but included surveys by different organizations as long as those surveys were transparent about their methodologies and displayed a sense of academic rigor in their presenting their findings.

The two groups differ in workplace dynamics. These differences can affect employee retention and talent acquisition as employers struggle to entice both groups to join their ranks. Studies show that both groups hesitate to believe that loyalty to their employer will benefit them in the long run. They're more likely to leave a job for a better opportunity than their predecessors who might have attempted to leverage the new opportunity with their current employer instead. However, despite this overarching similarity, millennials and Gen Z are different in the workplace.

Millennials are more likely to prioritize stability, while Gen Z is more likely to prioritize finding their dream job. This can lead to millennials being easier to retain if a job is stable and not in a volatile field while Gen Z might be more likely to leave a job that isn't lining up with their expectations. For companies, this can lead to disparities where they struggle to retain Gen Z employees if their company culture, expectations, benefits, and remuneration aren't in line with what Gen Z employees expect for their time and effort.

Gen Z is also less likely to prioritize growth opportunities in their career search compared to millennials. This disparity might be caused by the increasing number of jobs that do not provide growth opportunities. Unlike millennials who grew up with Baby Boomer parents whose companies promoted from the inside and didn't outsource jobs as often, Gen Z grew up with largely Gen X and millennial parents whose companies would trade them for a stale corn chip. So, the idea of internal growth in companies hasn't been hammered into their brains as strongly.

While many associate millennials with the start of the digital generations, it's really Gen Z who grew up with the technology. Many of them are young enough to not remember a time when internet connectivity wasn't a standard part of home services.

I, myself, am a baby millennial/elder Gen Z cusp and I still remember VHS tapes, CD and DVD players, and Nokia brick phones. My first cell phone was a flip phone without a full keyboard, no touch screen, and no camera. I didn't get a smartphone until I was in high school because my parents didn't see a need for it, and even then, the only reason I got one was because my phone, which at the time had a non-capacitative touch screen, had broken. I had to lobby for three weeks to convince my parents that a smartphone was the future and not a waste of money on fancy gadgets I didn't need.

Many Gen Zers grew up with broadband internet access, tablets, smartphones, and social media. This can lead to them being more technically savvy than their predecessors, but despite their constant connectivity to the outside world, it has led to some pitfalls as well. Gen Z is more likely to be lonely than their previous generations due to the constant comparison of their lives to the lives of others. This loneliness is exacerbated by the curation of content posted to social media, leading them to see only the best parts of others' lives and feel their own lives are lacking in comparison. They are also more likely to deal with body image issues and cyberbullying due to the ubiquity of social media and its presence in their lives.

The two generations have similar financial woes, but different attitudes towards money overall. Both generations were strongly impacted by the 2008 recession, with millennials reaching their adolescence during it and Gen Z experiencing much of their childhoods during it. Following the recession, home prices skyrocketed, inflation went crazy, and wages… stayed the same. All this is to say that millennials and Gen Z are both poorer in function than previous generations. Even if their numerical wages have gone up, their spending power is less potent. $20 went a long way when I was a kid. Saving up my lunch money could take me to a small café near my school at the end of the week. Now? Going to McDonald's would be iffy if I only had $20 to my name.

Despite this similarity in situation, millennials and Gen Z have differing attitudes toward how they spend money. Although both generations are spending less money on non-essential items than previous generations and prefer cheaper alternatives for their purchases where possible, Gen Z tends to be more fiscally conscious. They're more likely to save their money for a rainy day and are better at delayed gratification than millennials.

Both millennials and Gen Zers are, on average, more socially conscious about being understanding to customer service workers than previous generations. Although we understand that customer service is the job they're getting paid for, we also view them as humans who are deserving of kindness and respect. However, despite this similarity, the attitudes towards customer service in the two generations are different.

Millennials tend to have a higher expectation of customer service standards. They expect faster service, friendlier service, and a better overall experience than their Gen Z counterparts. They're also more likely to switch to a competitor brand after a bad service experience. Gen Z's attitudes towards customer service employees are more relaxed. They're okay with waiting and tend to prefer self-service options over employee service where possible. Millennials also report higher levels of exhaustion associated with customer service interactions compared to Gen Z, who don't see it as being as tiring.

When Burger King faced a Zesty Sauce shortage in 2019 due to a global horseradish scarcity, some devoted fans pledged to boycott the chain until the sauce returned.

Gen Z grew up with access to services like Yelp, GlassDoor, and RateMyLandlord, which were all revolutionary to many millennials, who often still remember a time without them. Thus, Gen Z is more likely to spend time scouring the internet for reviews and testimonials before they purchase something. Many millennials still remember a time when the testimonials you had access to before buying a product were specifically curated by the company to make their services appear more legitimate, and aren't as likely to prioritize reading reviews and researching products before buying them.

Millennials will also spend more money for a personalized experience with a company or brand, while Gen Z views personalization of your experience as a de facto part of purchasing a product. The ubiquity of personalized products, extending far beyond the simple engraving on your phone from the past, has made these types of experiences more accessible and while millennials are willing to shell out for these, Gen Z is more likely to look for the same experience at a lower price.

Surveys show that millennials are much more concerned with data privacy than Gen Z. This disparity is likely due to the ubiquity of technology for Gen Z's formative years compared to millennials. Internet safety, while important to both generations, looked different for the two groups. Millennials were more likely to be inundated with stranger danger, fear of stolen data, and hysteria around computer viruses and hackers. While Gen Z is still conscious of these factors, they're more socially savvy with the internet, have more trust in safety practices, and are less likely to feel fearful when putting data into websites.

This disparity can affect what websites and apps the two groups use. Millennials are more likely to use apps that they feel prioritize their privacy, while Gen Z is more lax and will use apps that they find fun even if the privacy of those apps is tenuous.