baby boomers generation x dan y

Characteristics of the Baby Boomers Generation

The Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and have the largest population of any generation. In their youth they were open-minded and rebellious but became more conservative in their 30’s and 40’s. Job status and social standing are important to this generation who tend to be optimistic, ambitious, and loyal, and believe that employment is for life. They created the concepts of “workaholic” and “superwoman”.

Baby Boomers are sometimes divided into 2 subgroups as life experiences, attitudes, behaviours and society were very different in 1964 compared to 1946:

• Boomers I or The Babyboomers, born 1946 to 1954, came of age 1963 to 1972
• Boomers II or Generation Jones, born 1955 to 1964, came of age 1973 to 1983

The Civil Rights movements and the Vietnam War was very significant to the Boomers I while social issues such as AIDS had more effect on Boomers II.

Characteristics of Generation X

Gen X was born between 1965 and 1979. They often had both parents working, were exposed to daycare and divorce, and became known as “latchkey kids”. They are a well-educated generation with many having tertiary qualifications and are resourceful, individualistic, self reliant and sceptical of authority. Unlike the Baby Boomers they are not interested in long-term careers, corporate loyalty or status symbols.

In the workplace they focus on relationships, outcomes, their rights and skills. They tend to change employment and even careers frequently and will leave a job if they are unhappy. They often have a “what’s in it for me” attitude.

Characteristics of Generation Y

Gen Y was born between 1980 and 1995 and are also known as the Millennium or Net Generation. Millennials are very technology wise and are comfortable with ethnically diverse groups. Their values are similar to Veterans in that they are optimistic, confident, sociable, and have strong morals and a sense of civic duty.

Gen Y are not brand loyal and the speed of the Internet has led the Net Generation to be flexible and changing in its fashion, style consciousness and where and how it is communicated with. They expect great workplace flexibility and are likely to change employers even more frequently than Gen X’s.