Results of a recent survey by Deloitte of young professionals, including those in government, indicates that the younger generation is motivated more by non-monetary incentives, including opportunities for growth and development, a culture that embraces contributions from all levels, and creative programs for new ideas and innovations. Deloitte noted that while fewer Baby Boomers are exiting the workforce than expected, government agencies have an opportunity to leverage Generation Y workers -- largely because of their technology skills and gravitation towards non-monetary rewards -- to support technology transformation initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and cost-effectiveness.
To attract the younger demographic, the study recommended that agencies reinforce their brand or image, partially by exploring technology-based initiatives, such as telecommuting and social networking, and by offering opportunities for growth and development. "Agencies that use their advantage to strategically select existing Gen Y talent and position themselves to attract new groups of Gen Yers as they come to the market are likely to achieve significant strides in executing on their missions, both in the near term and the future," the study stated.
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
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