There are many different descriptions of the generations that exist in our workforce today. Making it even more challenging is the fact that many people are staying in the workplace longer than they had expected just 5 years ago. Additionally older persons are coming back into the workforce to take part-time jobs, as a result age spans in our workforce today may be greater than ever before. Here is a break-down on some of the categories:
Matures or WWII Generation
Born: 1945 or earlier
Baby Boomers
Born: 1946 to 1964
Generation X
Born: 1965 to 1980
Generation Y or Millennials
Born: 1981 or after
Many definitions are often published which vary the years slightly. In some cases we may see in print sub-generations, such as "Trailing Boomers," a younger generation of the "Boomers" which would be born between 1954 and 1964. I believe it is also important to point out that socio-economic conditions, espoused values, and many other factors may influence the dynamics of any workplace professional where their habits, values, and demeanor may cross generational boundaries.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Interesting blog, Dennis. But it’s missing an important part of the equation: Generation Jones (born 1954-1965, between the Boomers and Generation X). GenJones is not a "sub-generation", and is hardly ever called "Trailing Boomers". It is a wholly distinct bona fide generation.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Generation Jones, and you’ll see it’s gotten a ton of media attention, and many top commentators from many top publications and networks (Washington Post, Time magazine, NBC, Newsweek, ABC, etc.) now specifically use this term. In fact, the Associated Press' annual Trend Report chose the Rise of Generation Jones as the #1 trend of 2009.
It is important to distinguish between the post-WWII demographic boom in births vs. the cultural generations born during that era. Generations are a function of the common formative experiences of its members, not the fertility rates of its parents. Many experts now believe it breaks down more or less this way:
DEMOGRAPHIC boom in babies: 1946-1964
Baby Boom GENERATION: 1942-1953
Generation Jones: 1954-1965
Generation X: 1966-1978
Here is an op-ed about GenJones as the new generation of leadership in USA TODAY:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090127/column27_st.art.htm
Here's a page with a good overview of recent media interest in GenJones:
http://generationjones.com/2009latest.html
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing. One point that I always try to make is that there are many definitions of the generations.
ReplyDelete