Dive Brief:

• A survey from Monster Worldwide Inc. — conducted with 2,000 respondents from multiple generations — highlights new challenges with recruiting the next generation of potential applicants, as reported by Fleet Owner.
• Generation Z respondents (ages 15 to 20) were found to be more altruistic and independent than others. About 74% of Gen Z respondents said jobs should be about more than "bringing home the bacon" as compared to 69% of older respondents. Nearly half of them want to have their own business compared to 32% of all respondents.
• Competitive pay, health benefits and a boss they can respect were listed as the top three job priorities. Though 58% of Gen Z respondents were also willing to work nights and weekends for better pay versus 41% across all generations.

Dive Insight:

Many companies have struggled to recruit younger applicants as the national truck driver shortage grows. Some trucking companies are looking for different ways to engage, and have even begun looking at new design options for their vehicles to help boost sales. While recruiters are still working to reach Generation Y, commonly known as millennials, Monster says it's time to start looking ahead to the next wave. 

"The key to successfully attracting and engaging Gen Z throughout their candidate journey will be a strong employer brand that is consistent across technologies," said Seth Matheson, Monster’s director of talent fusion, in a statement. "Organizational brands will need to be transparent, adaptable, personable and memorable; targeting through tools like social recruiting."

This latest generation is the first one to fully grow up with the internet and expressed more reliance on electronic devices to be productive. Some of these preferences may not seem directly compatible with what it takes to drive a collection vehicle, but companies may need to start considering ways to pique Gen Z's interest. Waste haulers across the country will need all the help they can get in coming years, especially from women, and recruiters should be willing to keep their options open.