Gen Z Is Ghosting Employers: What's Behind the Trend?
It has been widely recognized for quite some time now that employers often ghost job applicants during the hiring process , job seekers are equally prone to vanish during the job search process. I spoke with four specialists regarding the factors driving this phenomenon.
A recent report from Number Barn revealed the degree to which applicants were affected as a result. ghosting Potential employers noticed this trend was particularly prevalent among younger generations. Approximately 41 percent of individuals observed this phenomenon. Gen Z job seekers acknowledged abandoning a possible employer without explanation, with 37 percent of millennials admitting to this as well.
Why It Matters
Generation Z consists of individuals between the ages of 13 and 28, and this emerging cohort is poised to significantly influence the workplace as they increasingly become a major component of the workforce by the year 2030.
Up until now, Generation Z has instigated significant shifts within organizations, advocating for improved work-life balance and higher starting salaries, even though this has been met with disapproval from certain hiring managers.
According to an Intelligent.com survey, a significant majority of six out of every ten employers reported dismissing college graduates employed in 2024. Additionally, one out of every seven stated they may avoid recruiting fresh college graduates for the upcoming year, indicating hesitance about employing members of Generation Z.
What To Know
More than 40% of Generation Z job seekers reported having ghosted a prospective employer, compared with 37% of millennials who admitted to doing the same, as per the Number Barn survey.
Just 26% and 22% of Generation X and Baby Boomer respondents had taken such action. Overall, 35% acknowledged having ghosted an employer at some point during the recruitment process.
Based on feedback gathered from 1,500 individuals living in the country’s 30 most populous urban zones, the study identified those places where instances of ghosting were particularly prevalent as being Washington, D.C., Tampa, San Francisco, Austin, and Las Vegas.
Ghosting may involve possible romantic interests as much as friendships and businesses seeking new employees.
In the realm of dating, 75 percent of single individuals confessed that they have experienced being ghosted by someone they were involved with either through direct dates or conversations on a dating application.
Throughout the United States, people often felt they were being ghosted if they had contacted someone at least three times without receiving any reply or clarification.
What People Are Saying
The HR consultant Bryan Driscoll mentioned : Generation Z isn’t suddenly ignoring potential employers without explanation. Companies have been doing this to job seekers for years now. So, Gen Z is simply returning the favor. While I may not endorse the tactics used by both sides, I can see where they’re coming from.
He stated, “For years, companies have presumed that applicants ought to feel fortunate to receive an offer, keeping them engaged through numerous rounds of interviews, expecting free labor from them, providing unclear deadlines, and remaining uncommunicative once they choose to proceed elsewhere. However, now that newer generations of employees possess greater alternatives and leverage, they refuse to accept such conduct.”
Alex Beene, who instructs on financial literacy at the University of Tennessee at Martin, stated : When dealing with Generation Z, their personal and professional boundaries often become unclear, which poses significant challenges during recruitment. Similar to ending a relationship by suddenly cutting off contact, members of Gen Z sometimes choose to ignore initial employer communications entirely if they believe the role does not align with their abilities and passions or if the compensation proposed seems inadequate. This approach to job searching can easily shut doors that might otherwise remain open for potential opportunities in the future.
Kevin Thompson, a financial expert who founded and leads the 9i Capital Group as its CEO, stated : As someone who employs others, I view this phenomenon as simultaneously quite troubling and completely comprehensible. The younger generation has become wary of businesses—not out of preference, but due to personal encounters. A significant number reached adulthood during the Occupy Wall Street protests and saw directly how their families were impacted by past employers.
Michael Ryan, a financial guru and the creator of MichaelRyanMoney.com, stated : When you get accustomed to dismissing conversations with swipes or silencing notifications, it becomes considerably simpler to completely withdraw from professional interactions as well… I believe those from my generation might experience anxiety after doing this. They may also fret about how such actions could harm potential career prospects. However, for Generation Z members who ghost employers, particularly on their first day, they see it as taking control of their own careers into their hands in a manner they find empowering.
What Happens Next
Companies that establish real connections with potential employees and provide attractive positions are not likely to face the issue of ghosting, according to Driscoll.
Driscoll stated that "The businesses grappling with ghosting are those viewing hiring as a one-way deal, neglecting to honor applicants' time and demanding fidelity without offering it back."
More than ever, this change highlights an increasing disdain for obsolete work practices. Newer employees recognize their value and do not hesitate to leave positions that fail to match their standards. Rather than criticizing Generation Z, businesses ought to see this as a reminder. To attract potential hires, employers must begin viewing these individuals as human beings rather than mere resources.
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