Gen Y: The Next U.S. Export?

All is apparently not lost! While
disagreements about texting, Facebook, and work ethic fester in the
workplace, there is one thing about which all generations agree — the
ability to work in a globally-oriented environment will be critical to
their careers.

This revelation comes from a survey just published by Kelly Services. The findings are part of the Kelly Global Workforce Index.
According to George Corona, Kelly Services’ chief operating officer,
“employees around the globe are recognizing how to thrive in a
workplace with fewer international barriers…exposure to the
international workplace is becoming the norm as more highly skilled
people develop the capacity to export their talents wherever needed
around the globe.”

Key findings of the survey reveal that:

  • 81 percent of Gen Y believe it is
    important to their career prospects that they become more globally
    oriented, followed by Gen X (78 percent) and baby boomers (71 percent).
  • 69 percent of Gen X have recently
    worked closely with colleagues from a different country or culture,
    followed by Gen Y (67 percent) and baby boomers (66 percent).
  • 84 percent of Gen X feel that they
    possess the skills to work in a more globally oriented workplace,
    followed by Gen Y (82 percent) and baby boomers (81 percent).
  • In deciding where to work, exposure
    to a global environment is considered ‘extremely important’ by 32
    percent of Gen Y, 30 percent of Gen X, and 26 percent of baby boomers.
  • Only 35 percent of Gen Y receive
    formal cross-cultural or language training from their employers,
    followed by Gen X (33 percent) and baby boomers (27 percent).

Although Gen X and baby boomers have
more international experience, Gen Y more readily embraces that
experience as a factor in determining future job choice and career
progression.

“We are seeing a generation emerge
that is very confident operating in a global environment,” says Corona.
This will lead to many more transferrable skills and a business dynamic
where human capital can be deployed seamlessly to almost any location
on short notice.”

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