Gen Z Wants More Hard Skills, Digital Training
An Adobe survey sheds light on the kind of training Gen Z believes they need the most.
(Getty Images)
Chicago — While concerns have been raised about the need for Gen Z workers to improve their soft skills, that’s not the area that deserves the most attention, according to some members of the generation. In a Adobe survey of more than 1,000 Gen Z, nearly half (48%) said they want more hard skills training at work while about 33% said they wanted soft skills training.
It might seem counter-intuitive that the generation that grew up with phones and computers feel that their digital skills are lagging. But due to underfunding in education systems, many might not get exposure to the kind of technology being used in the workplace, Yahoo Finance reported.
“There’s a glaring gap in accessibility and application of tech education resources between lower-income and affluent students — a gap that was widened by the pandemic,” Rose Stuckey Kirk, chief corporate social responsibility officer said. “And we know this gap is more than an academic or social justice issue.”
Gen Z’s desire for hard skills speaks to an overall desire for mentorship and development at work. Around 83% in the Adobe survey said a workplace mentor is crucial for their career while only 52% reporting having one. Over half of the surveyed Gen Z (55%) said they participated in career development training less than once a month, noting they don’t have enough time to fit it into their schedules.
Noah Johnson (he/him/his) is a Chicago-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter: @noahwritestoo.
Edited by Nykeya Woods.