As ‘difficult’ Gen-Z workers in UAE and Saudi aren’t talking to older colleagues, we could all learn from better communication: LinkedIn

The professional network reveals a gap between Gen Z and their older colleagues at work, and career echo chambers could be to blame.

The research also shows, however, that Gen Z are aware of the value of this missed opportunity, as three quarters in the UAE and KSA point to better communication as a means to improve workplace productivity, learning opportunities and team morale.

Gen Z workers in the UAE and Saudi

Often labelled as “difficult” or resistant to authority, surprisingly, 76 per cent of Gen Z respondents said that they are eager to learn from other generations in the workplace.

However, just half of them consciously make an effort to speak to other generations.

Poised to make up more than a quarter of the global workforce by 2025, Gen Z feels uncomfortable in approaching other generations for assistance and support.

Over one in three say they are worried about looking foolish and 34 per cent avoid interacting with older generations as “they always seem to know more” than they do.

Gen Z are most likely to say that they don’t understand corporate jargon and find it isolating (51 per cent) in stark contrast to other generations.

This may be why the majority of them (73 per cent) want companies to do more to encourage and foster intergenerational workforces.

This career echo chamber may be exacerbating the skills gaps and feeding outdated intergenerational perceptions, leaving Gen Z to be at risk of suffering the most.

Well-documented advocates for work-life balance and financially driven, Gen Z are often criticised for their apparent unrealistic expectations of work.

However, the research from LinkedIn suggests that these views are unfounded and stem from a lack of communication among workforce generations.

Similar to other generations, professional development is top of mind for Gen Z as 74 per cent of them in the UAE and KSA put a stable and secure career as their biggest priority in professional life.

Asked about the priorities when evaluating a company’s culture and values, almost half (46 per cent) say opportunities for growth and learning top the list.

Young professionals recognise the importance of networking to build their careers, but as a generation who entered the workforce amongst hybrid and remote workplace arrangements, they are missing out on informal observations and vital cues that traditionally guide behaviour, collaboration and networking.

In fact, more than two-thirds (72 per cent) of all professionals in the UAE and KSA recognize that workers who started their careers during the pandemic need additional support with developing soft skills, such as communication, leadership and empathy.

LinkedIn Career Expert, Najat Abdelhadi said: “The world of work is undergoing change at an unprecedented rate, with the skills needed for the same job expected to change by 65 per cent by 2030.

“This is the time to build a resilient workforce that is well-connected and generationally diverse.

“Multigenerational workforces provide access to diverse perspectives, knowledge, and insights that can help young professionals in particular make sense of the world of work and gain confidence.

“As our region continues to brim with opportunities for young professionals and career starters, Gen Z are increasingly turning to LinkedIn’s supportive community for guidance and advice”

To help young professionals break free from their communication barriers, Najat has the below tips:

• Seek opportunities to communicate with other generations: Leave your preconceptions at the door and encourage yourself to engage with other generations in the workplace. Actively listening to colleagues outside of your cohort can help avoid assumptions about different generations and their attitudes to work, build trust and rapport and allow you to learn from each others’ experience
• Find a mentor: Consider asking your manager for a mentor from an older generation. A good mentor can further your professional growth by helping you develop specific skills, set career goals, and connect you to people and opportunities. Mentoring can help bridge generational differences in the workplace and help generations who are decades apart better understand each other. More experienced professionals should also consider reverse mentoring to connect with younger generations
• Lean into your online professional network for support: Tap into your LinkedIn community for career know-how and advice on growing your career by building connections and following people you want to learn from