Dive Brief:

• By the year 2020, more than half of the workforce will be made up of millennials. Ketti Salemme, who writes for The People Development Network says that, “This career-driven crowd is looking for organizations where they can learn and develop their career. Our research has found that 75% of millennials would consider leaving their job if they don’t see options for their professional development.”

• Armed with research from Kenan-Flagler University and Cap Strat, Salemme points out that 72% of millennials would sacrifice a higher salary in exchange for a more personally fulfilling career and that more than half of millennials say that opportunities for career development are highly attractive.

• Attracting and retaining millennials starts and ends with creating a workplace where training and learning are priority. Salemme says that giving millennials a clear path to success is the key. 

Dive Insight:

Millennials, the largest up-and-coming generation in the workforce today (80 million strong), puts learning ahead of other priorities, and for good reason: they need to remain competitive in an unstable job market. Salemme advises that, “they have a strong desire to better themselves, making it a win-win situation for your organization.”

If companies want to attract and retain millennials they need a plan of action. Adaptable developmental activities, like onsite brown bag learning sessions, sending them to conferences, and providing access to courses and on-demand classes are solutions. Millennials also need short and long term career goals, and a flexible career path to get there.