Work values and beliefs of ‘Generation X’ and ‘Generation Y’

Abstract

This study examined cohort differences and intraindividual change in the intrinsic and extrinsic work values and job entitlement beliefs of Canadian high school seniors (classes of 1985 and 1996, representing ‘Generation X’ and ‘Generation Y’, respectively) surveyed at age 18 and again at age 25. The 1996 cohort placed more value on extrinsic work rewards (at age 25) and reported stronger job entitlement beliefs. Intrinsic work values increased in both cohorts during early adulthood, whereas extrinsic work values increased only in the 1996 cohort. Job entitlement beliefs decreased on average but less so in the 1996 cohort and in women. Predictors of intraindividual change depended on the outcome but included gender, academic experiences at age 18 (grades and post-secondary aspirations), post-high school labour market (unemployment) and educational experiences (obtaining a university degree), and adult statuses at age 25 (full-time worker, parent).

Keywords:

• generation
• attitudes
• young adulthood

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by grants to the first author by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Alberta Advanced Eduation, and the University of Alberta. Data were collected by the Population Research Laboratory, University of Alberta.

Notes

1. The question about years of post-secondary education desired was asked open-ended in 1996, compared to a forced-choice option with five response categories in 1985. The change in wording may be partially responsible for the large cohort difference, although a national survey in 2000 also revealed very high aspirations – 61% of 15-year-olds hoped to complete one or more university degrees (Krahn and Taylor 2005).

2. Although the R² value presented for each of the regression analyses in Table 1 reflect the final equations, following convention (Cohen et al. 2003a) the standardised partial coefficients for each block of variables take into account only the other variables in that and preceding blocks.