Infographic highlights and survey method
As three leading businesses operating in the built environment, we decided to hold a cross-business attraction forum in order to examine the best way to attract, retain, reward, and develop the industry’s future-fit workforce.
Over an 18-month programme, we invited recent starters from each organisation to re-think the recruitment, on boarding, development and retention processes for Generation Z. Our attendees then set out their ideas for improving them, making recommendations on how businesses could appeal to new entrants who might not have considered a career in construction, or even be aware of the jobs available.
The feedback made for a fascinating insight into young peoples’ perceptions of the industry and the jobs market. Our Gen Z-ers showed similar aspirations to the ambitions of the sector; while simultaneously revealing perceptions about the industry as an age group that we, as industry leaders, hadn’t considered before.
It was clear we needed to examine the subject further. In March 2021, we did just that.
We carried out an extensive survey to ask 1025 people aged 16-24 for their career opinions. The range of respondents were diverse with 51% being female and 49% male. Meanwhile, 55% were White British and 36% were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Our questions ranged from their top job motivators, to their favourite form of social media. From the survey results, we hoped to understand what motivates Gen-Z when applying for jobs, as well as once in them; what their attitudes were to the built environment; and finally, what their attitudes are to life and self.
From them, we discovered the following...
