Generation Z is entering the workforce, bringing with it a tech-first mentality that will propel businesses further into the digital era, according to Gen Z research by Dell Technologies.
Anothai Wettayakorn, vice-president of Dell EMC Indochina under Dell Technologies, said Gen Z, who were born after 1996, will graduate and enter the labour force, making up 20% of the workforce by 2020.
The GenZ global research surveyed 12,000 schools in 17 countries, 722 in Thailand and 4,331 in Southeast Asia.
The survey found that some 97% of total respondents in Thailand want to work with cutting edge technology in future careers, higher than the global average of 80% and Southeast Asian average of 90%. Four out of 10 Gen Z Thais are interested in IT careers, including cybersecurity.
Up to 95% of Thais respondents are willing to be technology mentors by sharing knowledge with others in their jobs, higher than 77% globally and 83% in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, 93% of Thais surveyed say technology and automation will create a more equitable work environment, higher than globally at 80% and 86% in Southeast Asia.
73% of Gen Z Thais pay attention on data security, equal to the global average of 73%, but lower than Southeast Asia, 75%.
Technology skill of this tech-savvy generation is 76%, and they are confident in their digital skills, but 96% lack confidence in soft skills, like leadership and collaboration, as well as applicable experiences.
An interesting insight from the data is Gen Z is eager to have more human interaction in their work than millennials.
Of Thai respondents, 58% say they prefer to go to a workplace rather than work from home, higher than 53% globally and lower than Southeast Asia’s 64%. Of Gen Z Thais, 70% prefer to work as a team rather than work independently compared with 58% globally and 64% in Southeast Asia.
Thais also overwhelmingly say (91%) social media can be valuable to a workplace, higher than 82% globally and 87% in the region.
Thais prefer to communicate with co-workers in person 34%, and 40% prefer phone communication, lower than global and regional respond, which are 43%. 64% of Thais believe that human and machine can work as the one team, compared to 51% of the global respondents.
The companies must have the digital infrastructure to draw the Gen Z while create the “Digital First” culture, have mentorship programs with senior staff to train these digital natives, open opportunity for university students, and promote the use of technology for collaboration across sectors.
To make a smooth digital transformation, it’s important to do workforce transformation.
