There are over 8 billion people on Earth, and that number rises by the second. Every new birth brings with it not just another person, but a new member of a distinct generation shaped by experiences, challenges, and events. As the world changes, so, too, do the lives and values of each emerging generation.
Generation Alpha is the generation being born today and entering society–and, in the not-too-distant future, our workplaces. Known as the Glass Generation, these individuals are born into a completely techno-centric world and are poised to take it by storm. We’ve explored Generation Z in the workforce and have discovered what sets Generation X apart from other generations in the modern working world. Now, let’s dive into what’s distinctive about the Glass Generation and how they're already shaping the world around them.
Who is Generation Alpha?
Demographics
Gen Alphas (or Gen As) are born between 2010 and 2025. With a portion of the generation yet to arrive, the demographics are evolving. However, right now it seems like it could be the largest generation in modern history, with an estimated 2.2 billion to be born by 2025. Along with being the largest population, Gen A is also estimated to be the most diverse–the first generation in the US in which the white population is a minority.
Childhood
Born to mostly Millenial and Gen Z parents, Gen Alpha is nicknamed the ‘mini-millennials’. Though Gen Zs and Millennials both are known for being tech savvy, Gen Alphas are being born into a completely digital world where smartphones, tablets, and virtual reality reign.
When looking at the childhood experience of Gen A, it’s important to note that members of this generation have experienced higher rates of poverty to date than Gen Zs, Millennials, Gen Xs, and even Baby Boomers. In fact, in 2021 it was estimated that 2 in 5 Gen Alphas were growing up in low-income families. The financial hardship only increases among minorities, with one-third of African American Gen As and one-fourth of Latino Gen As having lived in poverty since birth. This may be due to the drastic rise in single parenthood–with over 35% born into single parent homes.
Education
Generation Alpha is on track to have more college graduates than any preceding generation, with a predicted 1 in 2 Gen As completing college. Gen As are also more likely to be surrounded by college-educated adults, as they are being born to Millenial and Gen Z parents–two generations known for valuing a college education.
Another factor worth noting about Gen A is the dramatic rise of homeschooling. In the past two years alone, the number of children being home-schooled has doubled. This significant increase of home-school students may lead universities and workplaces to review their hiring procedures, as traditional High School Diplomas give way to home-school transcripts.
Unique Factors
Members of Generation Glass were either born or developing during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdowns. At the onset of the pandemic, the world was forced to shift into a strange new ‘normal’--a survival mode where anything deemed nonessential was forbidden and isolation was the new measure of safety. For the first time in history, all schools from Pre-K to University and their extracurricular activities were shut down and even parks and playgrounds were closed.
Although these shutdowns were viewed as a means of safety and enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the effects of this isolation may have an impact on the social, psychological, and learning style characteristics of Gen A. In fact, psychologists have linked this period of shut downs to lower physical activity, slower development, and a peak in mental health problems observed in Gen A and Gen Z.
For those already considering Gen Alpha’s place in the modern workspace, their unique experiences and attributes will likely change how we teach work routines, standards, and protocols. A more inclusive approach that takes into account varying learning styles and special needs may prove extremely beneficial to workplaces gearing up to welcome Generation Alpha.
Are you wondering what jobs Gen A will likely pursue? Then it may come as a surprise to you that most of the career paths this generation is likely to choose belong almost entirely to new industries–some of which are probably yet to exist. Nanotechnology, virtual reality, blockchain, and autonomous transport are only just emerging onto the landscape of the modern world. Yet, they are predicted to dominate the future work environment, and positions in these fields will most probably be filled by Gen As.
Generation Alpha, like the generations before it, is unique and will transform the world around us. It’s imperative, then, to invest time in understanding this new generation.. Organizations that do so will be better prepared when this new and determined crowd enters the workforce.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the impact each generation has on the workplace (and on the world around it), check out our blog series, “The New Workforce”, in which we explore Generation Z and what it brings to the workforce.
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