Gen Z will have 'more qualifications than parents to hold same job'
Youngsters will have three times as many qualifications as their parents to hold the same job, according to research
- Generation Z is UK’s most qualified generation with 80 per cent set to complete higher education
- Nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of Gen Z will attend university
Youngsters will have three times as many qualifications as their parents for the same jobs, according to research.
Generation Z – those born between the mid-1990s and 2010s – are the UK’s most qualified generation, with 80 per cent set to complete higher education. This compares to just 15 per cent of Boomers – the generation born between 1946 and 1964.
A study found that as little as 4 per cent of Boomers in senior positions, who earn more than £70,000 annually, completed O-Levels or their equivalent.
But nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of Gen Z will attend university – obtaining a degree with honours or a postgraduate degree, such as a masters.
Pictured: Graduation (file photo). A study found that nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of Gen Z will attend university – obtaining a degree with honours or a postgraduate degree, such as a masters
In fact, on average, Gen Z are spending at least six years or longer in education.
The youngest generation also have high expectations placed on them by the job sector, as one third of those surveyed said they were required to have extra industry-specific qualifications for an entry-level job.
Robbie Bryant, from Open Study College, which conducted the research, said: ‘Qualifications are an absolute necessity entering the workforce today, more than ever before.’
In comparison, nearly 90 per cent of boomers claim they did not need any qualifications at all for their first job, with a further 85 per cent saying they secured their first job easily.
Nearly one in three boomers claim they had no interest in obtaining extra qualifications and 80 per cent said the qualifications they did have were not relevant to their careers at all.
But on the flip side, Gen Z are negotiating higher salaries than their parents – with 60 per cent expecting a pay rise after just six months on the job.
Pictured: Group working (file photo). On average, Gen Z are spending at least six years or longer in education
The study, which was conducted by independent learning provider Open Study College, found that the number one reason Gen Z change careers is if they’re offered a higher salary elsewhere.
Mr Bryant said: ‘Most entry level jobs will seek a university degree or other qualifications beyond college level certification. This places a huge emphasis on education and studying and for some people the traditional schooling method simply does not work.
‘For those who do not perform well in a traditional school environment, online learning could be an option. There are lots of fantastic online resources now, you can even complete complex courses online such as CIPD or ACCA qualifications.
‘We should also encourage employers to look beyond grades and qualifications and find great talented people that they could train themselves or provide training courses for.’
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