Generational job search differences revealed

Nick Elvin

A study by the Indeed Hiring Lab has revealed the job search behaviour of different generations in the workforce.

The UK working population is currently divided almost evenly between Baby Boomers (aged 51-70), Gen Xers (31-50) and Millennials (21-30), although Millennials are predicted to make up 50% of the global workforce by 2020.

The research shows that 73% of Millennials’ job search queries come from a mobile device. They show the most interest in a career in office or administrative support, while there is less demand for jobs as healthcare practitioners and technical.

Their top search query is ‘bank’, however Indeed Hiring Lab says that wider industry trends pointing to Millennial disillusionment with this sector suggest this interest may be in a technology or support capacity, rather than working as an investment banker.

Generation X is similarly tech-savvy, with 75% of job search queries conducted on the move. Their top search term of ‘management’ indicates that Gen Xers have been honing their leadership and tech skills, making them suitable candidates for the senior-level roles that Baby Boomers will retire from. This could suggest that the level and type of role is more important to them at this stage of their career than the industry in which they work.

Jobs in the computing and mathematical field, as well as architecture and engineering also feature in their top search terms – this may be evidence of the impact of government initiatives launched to boost interest in STEM subjects in the UK, following a decline in students studying these subjects to A-level in the 1990s.

Fifty-one per cent of Baby Boomers’ queries come from a mobile device, with this group relying more heavily on desktop computers for web browsing than their younger counterparts.

This group has been in the workforce the longest, and they plan to stay on longer than previous generations did. This intention is reflected in their interest in part-time jobs, which may be one way of delaying retirement in favour of working fewer hours.

They show more interest in ‘blue collar’ jobs, with ‘driver’ and ‘warehouse’ appearing in their top search terms. It may be that these are the jobs that are most consistent with their desire to work more flexibly.

The industries that attract most interest from this group are installation, maintenance and repair, and building and construction.

“The varying level of interest in specific sectors must be considered against the backdrop of the types of jobs that employers are offering,” said Tara Sinclair, chief economist at Indeed. “There are many more Millennials looking for jobs in business and finance compared to Baby Boomers, far outstripping current opportunity in this sector. On the other hand, we can expect to see skills shortages in trade professions, with interest dropping steadily down the generations.

“Governments are generally forced to be reactive to employment trends. However, developing a full picture of the generational landscape in this way helps us to understand and forecast potential skills gaps and shortages.

“This insight is invaluable for employers, who can begin to adopt strategies to navigate through these shifts. For example, it may be that they should consider their recruitment strategy with a view to tapping into potential pockets of talent in other markets – our research showed that 9% of job seekers across the world are already searching for jobs in another country.”