What is generation x?

Glossary/G/Generation X

What is generation X?

Generation X is the group that comes right after baby boomers and before millennials and comprises individuals born between the early to mid-1960s and early-1980s. These are the parents of the millennials and the children of the silent generation or the early boomers.

Named Generation X due to their refusal to be defined, these people are characteristically independent, self-reliant, self-sufficient, resourceful, hard-working, and adaptable. They are a relatively smaller group than the generations surrounding them and were also known as the latchkey generation.

Not to be confused with:

Generation Y

Generation Y, also known as millennials, comprises people born between the 1980s and mid-1990s. Born...

generation Z

Generation Z, or zoomers, refers to people who were born in the late 1990s to the early 2010s.

Not to be confused with:

Generation Y

Generation Y, also known as millennials, comprises people born between the 1980s and mid-1990s. Born...

generation Z

Generation Z, or zoomers, refers to people who were born in the late 1990s to the early 2010s.

Generation Y

Generation Y, also known as millennials, comprises people born between the 1980s and mid-1990s. Born...

generation Z

Generation Z, or zoomers, refers to people who were born in the late 1990s to the early 2010s.

Generation Y

Generation Y, also known as millennials, comprises people born between the 1980s and mid-1990s. Born...

generation Z

Generation Z, or zoomers, refers to people who were born in the late 1990s to the early 2010s.

Generation Y refers to people born in the 1980s and mid-90s, and are also known as the millennials or Gen Y. The generation is marked by increased familiarity with and use of technology and is also sometimes referred to as digital natives”. Gen Y is characterized by a lot more optimism than Gen X, and this can be attributed to the fact that the former had a more protected childhood.

Generation Z, or zoomers, refers to people who were born in the late 1990s to the early 2010s. Zoomers are known to prioritize work-life balance and personal well-being. In comparison to Generation X, zoomers live a slower and more relaxed life.

How can you build an effective employee engagement strategy for generation x?

Prioritize autonomy

The majority of Gen X is familiar with the concept of self-care as both their parents were working. They are self-driven and it’s best to give them a work environment that has flexible working hours, space for creativity, and minimal micromanagement.

Leadership and learning opportunities

Gen X values opportunities for continued professional development and learning. They appreciate diversity, change, challenge, responsibility, and honesty in the workplace. Allowing them a lead role where they get to share their knowledge with others can help engage them.

Purpose-driven roles

Generation X employees like it when their work matters the most. Organizations that let these achieve something bigger than they envisioned are the ones they stay attached to.