We recently surveyed our audience to help employers better understand what each generation of working professionals is looking for in a job opportunity and workplace to help better attract and retain top talent. 

Below is the summary of our findings. Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey. 

What job seekers are looking for overall

Starting off with some great news, 90% of our audience is still planning on staying in the hospitality industry. Gen Z was the generation with a greater number of people planning to leave the industry, but only 14% are. Currently, 41% of the surveyed audience is unemployed, 32% are in management roles, 11% in front-of-house roles, 10% in corporate office roles, and 6% in back-of-house roles. 

Of the 10% overall who said they are leaving the industry, 31% mentioned it was to have a better work/life balance and 20% said for higher starting salaries. All generations are currently satisfied with the benefits available from their employers, with room for improvement. 

Across all generations, the most important quality everyone looks for in a manager is good communication. 

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

• 21% of our surveyed audience identified as baby boomers.
• 49% of those are currently unemployed, and 28% are in management roles. 
• 34% stay in a role or employer for 11+ years.
• Over a quarter leave a role due to a lack of promotions or salary increases available.
• The second most common reason is not having a work/life balance in their current role, which is also the top reason why baby boomers choose to leave the hospitality industry completely. 
• The top three qualities they look for in a manager are communication, the ability to delegate, and showing gratitude. 

Gen X (1965-1980)

• 43% of the Gen X survey audience are currently in management roles, while 32% are unemployed. 
• The majority of Gen X stay in a role or at an employer 3-5 years.
• The top two reasons they will leave are either the lack of promotions or salary increases and/or the lack of work/life balance. 
• Those leaving hospitality are doing so for better work/life balance.
• The only generation also leaving to find better benefits packages.
• The top three qualities they look for in a manager are communication, empathy, and the ability to delegate.

Millennials (1981-1996)

• 36% of the millennial audience are currently unemployed, while 34% are in management roles.
• Almost half of millennials stay in a role or at an employer for 3-5 years, but 21% stay for only 1-2 years. 
• If they choose to leave the hospitality industry, it’s due to a lack of promotions or salary increases.
• 92% are planning to stay in the industry, the largest generation planning to stay. 

Gen Z (1997-2012)

• 56% of our gen z audience is currently unemployed, taking into account that some may have just entered the job market or are not currently a part of the job market. 
• 44% responded that they only stay in a role or at an employer for 1-2 years, making them the generation that changes the most often.
• 86% of gen z plans to stay in the hospitality industry, which is still the majority but the generation with the lowest percentage.
• Of the 14% choosing to look in other industries, 36% are doing so because of the lack of advancement opportunities.