Why Continuous Learning is Attractive to Gen Z and Millennials

When it comes to updating professional skills, continuous learning is more important to Millennials and adult Gen Zers than to Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, according to a survey.

More than half of Millennials (58 percent) and adult Gen Zers (52 percent) said success in their careers depends on updating their skills and knowledge frequently, compared with 35 percent of Gen Xers and 34 percent of Baby Boomers.

However, younger workers are also more likely to feel stressed about the need to continuously update their skills and knowledge. Almost one-third (31 percent) of Millennials and Gen Zers said engaging in continuous learning stressed them out, compared with 19 percent of Gen Xers and 15 percent of Baby Boomers.

Overall, though, engaging in continuous learning was most often associated with good feelings, with “fulfilled,” “accomplished” and “motivated” the most cited emotions by all generations.

“The workplace and its demands are changing more rapidly than ever before, thanks to technology,” said Andrew Savikas, president of getAbstract US. “It’s clear that all generations — but especially Gen Zers and Millennials — know this and deeply understand that actively seeking new skills and knowledge is essential as they are advancing in their careers. Fortunately there are more resources than ever to learn new skills and gain knowledge, and ways to integrate that learning into everyday work.”

Younger generations expect employers to provide learning opportunities

Nearly all respondents (93 percent) said it was at least somewhat important that their employers provide resources for continuous learning, but younger generations were more likely to say it was extremely or very important. Of adult Gen Zers, 84 percent said it was extremely or very important, as did 78 percent of Millennials; 71 percent of Gen Xers; and 63 percent of Baby Boomers.

How important to you is it that your company provide training/materials to update your skills and/or knowledge?

Adult Gen Z
Extremely important: 52.9%
Very important: 31%
Somewhat important: 11.5%
Not so important: 3.5%
Not at all important: 1.2%

Millennials
Extremely important: 45%
Very important: 32.9%
Somewhat important: 17.2%
Not so important: 3.9%
Not at all important: 1%

Gen X
Extremely important: 33.7%
Very important: 36.9%
Somewhat important: 20.4%
Not so important: 6.5%
Not at all important: 2.5%

Baby Boomers
Extremely important: 30.1%
Very important: 33.3%
Somewhat important: 26.3%
Not so important: 3.8%
Not at all important: 6.5%

People management, time management and leadership are most important skills to learn

Across generations, the skills most important to update through continuous learning were people management, time management, leadership and communication. Millennials were most likely to select multiple skills, while Gen Zers were most likely to select technical skills like UX design and artificial intelligence.

The survey of 1,048 adults was conducted by getAbstract, a company that summarizes top business books, articles, and videos.

*This post is also featured on eCampusNews

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

audio
Innovation That Listens: AtlasIED’s Product Favorites Reflect Audio Evolution
July 19, 2025

In the world of commercial audio, true innovation often hides in plain sight—camouflaged as a rock or embedded seamlessly in a ceiling. At AtlasIED, favorite products like the Atmosphere AZMP series and the discreet yet powerful AS Series outdoor speakers speak volumes about the company’s engineering focus: smart design meets acoustic excellence. These aren’t just…

Read More
work
The Soundtrack of Productivity: What AtlasIED Pros Play While They Work
July 18, 2025

At AtlasIED, where sound is the business, it’s no surprise that the background noise of the workplace is as diverse as the employees themselves. From jazz and classical to country and hard rock, team members curate their own personal soundscapes to fuel focus and creativity. Some opt for instrumental tunes to maintain mental clarity, while…

Read More
AI
AtlasIED Behind the Scenes: Redefining Support with AI and Human Assistants
July 18, 2025

In the age of AI, the question isn’t whether technology can replace humans—it’s whether it should. At AtlasIED, that debate goes beyond the theoretical, delving into how businesses can balance the efficiency of AI with the empathy and nuance of human touch. While AI assistants offer lightning-fast scheduling and data retrieval, human assistants bring judgment,…

Read More
InfoComm 2025
Inside the Soundscape: AtlasIED’s Immersive Booth Experience at InfoComm 2025
July 18, 2025

Walking through AtlasIED’s booth at InfoComm 2025 felt less like visiting an exhibit and more like entering the next era of audio design. The spotlight was on the Atlas+Fyne IsoFlare™ Series—a powerful testament to how distributed audio can be both beautifully simple and sonically sophisticated. In a show where innovation competes for attention, AtlasIED stood…

Read More