The next generation of workers in Australia: their views on organizations, work and rewards

Abstract

This study draws upon a small sample of university students in Australia to investigate how organizational preferences are related to different attitudes about work and reward. It extends past sectoral research to analyse both sectoral and organizational differences, and looks beyond individuals who are working in the sectors and organizations, to those who aspire to enter the various sectors and organizations, and therefore is valuable for recruitment. Apart from a few exceptions, the respondents in this survey who intend to enter the different sectors in the near future appeared to be largely motivated by job attributes which are similar to those reported in past studies on the employees in these sectors.

Keywords:

• Recruitment
• university students
• work motivation
• rewards
• public sector
• private sector

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the anonymous referees for their useful comments.

Notes

1 This income differential is partly due to the shorter number of hours worked in the third sector.

2 Not all core units were surveyed. As the number of core units is not uniform across programmes, it was decided that a minimum of two core units per programme would be surveyed. Again, the core units were chosen randomly.

3 They include the organization's high standards; friendly and approachable management; responsive and decisive management; flexible working hours; good working relationships; good physical working conditions; opportunity to make a contribution to important decisions; opportunity to engage in satisfying leisure activities; good match between job requirements and abilities and experience; enough information, authority, and equipment to do my job; variety in work assignments, tasks and roles; freedom from supervision; and work that is interesting and satisfying.