Experience · HR glossary

Generational Workforce

Generational workforce is a term used when discussing employees through broad age-cohort groupings. It can frame demographic planning, although individuals within a cohort have widely different experiences and preferences.

Example

A workforce report considers upcoming retirement patterns and entry-level recruitment needs without assuming that all employees of similar ages want identical working arrangements.

What to keep in mind

Cohort labels are imprecise and their date boundaries vary. Use direct evidence of skills, needs and preferences rather than assigning motivation or ability to someone based on a generational stereotype.

Further reading

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