Younger Americans are more likely than older generations to say they’re in need of close friends and mentors at work, according to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence survey. They are also more likely to already have a workplace mentor. Fifty-nine percent of Gen Zers and 57% of millennials say they need a mentor at work. In contrast, just 25% of baby boomers and 37% of Gen Xers agree. Some workers already have a work mentor, but that likelihood declines with age: Just under half of Gen Zers and 42% of millennials have a mentor, while under one-third of Gen Xers and under one-quarter of baby boomers have one.
Is there a generational divide between workers who prioritize workplace relationships and those who don’t? Younger Americans are more likely than older generations to say they’re in need of close friends and mentors at work, according to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence survey. They are also more likely to already have a workplace mentor. Fifty-nine percent of Gen Zers and 57% of millennials say they need a mentor at work. In contrast, just 25% of baby boomers and 37% of Gen Xers agree. Some workers already have a work mentor, but that likelihood declines with age: Just under half of Gen Zers and 42% of millennials have a mentor, while under one-third of Gen Xers and under one-quarter of baby boomers have one. There’s a similar divide when it comes to having friends at work. Slightly over half of U.S. workers say they have at least one close friend at work. However, younger workers are much more likely to say they need work friends: 55% of Gen Zers and 46% of millennials say so, compared to 34% of Gen Xers and 33% of baby boomers. Is having mentors and/or friends at work important to you? Why or why not? Weigh in below. ✍️: Rachel Cromidas 📊: Allie Lewis, Bud Rashidian
