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| Ms. Pham Thi Khanh Ly believes that Gen Z also greatly needs the sharing, empathy, and support of other generations in the labor market. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee) |
That is the view of Ms. Pham Thi Khanh Ly, Vice President of the School Board/Executive Director of FPT Cau Giay Primary and Secondary School (Hanoi)/FPT Bac Giang Primary, Secondary and High School, in an interview with World & Vietnam Newspaper regarding Generation Z.
According to the General Statistics Office, in Vietnam, the number of Gen Z individuals of working age (15 to 24 years old) was approximately 13 million in 2019. By 2025, Gen Z is expected to contribute one-third of the working-age population in Vietnam and will have a significant impact on the domestic labor market. What are your views on Gen Z?
Gen Z, a generation born and raised in the era of the internet's rapid development, will undoubtedly not only impact but also transform the face of the labor market. Their creativity and individuality present both opportunities and challenges, forcing education systems and businesses to adapt and create new opportunities.
It can be said that this generation brings together dynamic and individualistic young people. Regardless of the work environment, they bring youthful energy and enthusiasm. In particular, Gen Z is very quick to generate ideas and is not afraid to express themselves. A workplace without Gen Z would be less dynamic and lack the abundant energy of these young people.
However, Gen Z is currently quite fragmented, possessing all the necessary characteristics but lacking the maturity and composure to transform those characteristics into sharp tools in their work.
Having interacted with many young people from Generation Z, what are the distinguishing characteristics of this generation? What opportunities and challenges do they face?
This generation was born into a developing society with many advantages, and is considered the first generation to have access to technology from a young age. Furthermore, they grew up in an environment fully influenced by the technological revolution, profoundly affecting how they interact with the world and how they process emotions and behave, often leading to them being perceived as "out of place" in the eyes of other generations.
However, with the explosion of technology, if Gen Z doesn't make an effort to learn, they can easily fall into the trap of becoming "useless" as computers gradually replace human jobs.
Gen Z is distinguished by its straightforwardness, self-awareness, transparency, a desire for income commensurate with effort, and ultimately, a willingness to spend lavishly and enjoy life as a way for this group to balance their lives.
Furthermore, this generation experiences a "generational break" and is no longer confined within the frameworks and directions of family like previous generations. Unlike previous generations who preferred stability in work and life, Gen Z values experiences and desires to try their hand at many different aspects. Of course, these personality traits, if not properly managed, can easily become a "double-edged sword" for Gen Z, even leading them astray, with many potentially becoming confused about the meaning and values of life.
| "Gen Z is like raw materials that need to be polished through experience to become diamonds. But once the diamond shines, it will attract and inspire other generations to follow this trend." |
At the same time, Gen Z are intelligent, dynamic, and perceptive, but they lack the perseverance and discipline to pursue their goals. They are lacking mentors and connectors who can show them what to do with their strengths, guide them on when to take a different path, and when to persevere to the end.
Gen Z represents the future of the workforce because their personalities will help jobs deviate from the conventional paths of previous generations. Instead of relying primarily on experience, Gen Z is more informed and possesses more individuality. They are curious, eager to learn, and eager to explore, therefore, the future labor market will be more diverse and innovative.
But being born into an age of information overload is actually a trap for them. Whether they know how to turn that information into a useful asset for themselves in life or work is another matter.
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| Gen Z are intelligent, dynamic, and perceptive. (Illustrative image - Source: vneconomy) |
Does that mean they have many advantages?
Gen Z's advantage lies in their ability to quickly adopt new technologies, making them very proactive and independent in their work. They are also a generation that isn't afraid to make mistakes and are willing to learn from them, but they are also a very vulnerable generation.
The positive characteristics of this workforce are creativity, dynamism, and the ability to innovate and create breakthroughs in their work. These are essential qualities for businesses in the current context, especially as Vietnam integrates internationally with trade agreements and global competition.
Given the job market's attrition rate, how should Gen Z prepare themselves to seize opportunities in the digital age?
Job turnover and dismissals are a perennial issue in the labor market, affecting every generation. Especially in today's increasingly competitive job market, the pressure to dismiss employees is even greater. The problem is that each generation reacts to this differently. While previous generations prioritized stability and passively resigned, job hopping has become a trend for a significant portion of Gen Z.
They dislike restrictions and constraints, so they pursue their entrepreneurial dreams instead of becoming employees at a company. The common phenomenon of young workers changing jobs is partly due to the companies themselves. The reason is that young workers often have high expectations of their workplace; they need a leader with vision and integrity, and a company with a groundbreaking development direction. Therefore, when disappointed, young workers, influenced by emotions, are more likely to choose to leave to find a more suitable place.
Gen Z is like raw material that needs to be polished through experience to become a diamond. But once the diamond shines, it will attract and inspire other generations to follow this trend.
Gen Z will learn the necessary skills for work very quickly, which is not a concern. What Gen Z needs is to hone their life skills, adapt, change their perspective, learn to cope with uncertainty, and manage their emotions.
Ultimately, Gen Z also needs the understanding, empathy, and support of other generations in the job market.
Thank you!
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