Guest Author: Jeremy Schmerling
Contrary to much that has been written about millennials, this generation has a lot to offer associations, including digital savvy, a commitment to community, and a drive to succeed.
As of 2015, millennials officially make up the largest population within the U.S. workforce. With 53.5 million millennials (generally defined as those born between 1980 and 2000) employed in the United States in 2015 (compared to 52.7 million gen X-ers and 44.6 million baby boomers), it’s time to embrace the future leaders of our workforce.
The good news is that this is not a generation full of entitled young men and women that you so often hear and read about. Rather, this latest generation to enter the workforce brings some seriously strong assets with them—especially for associations and nonprofits.
1. Millennials bring new ideas to the table.
Millennials have had nearly instant access to the internet from early childhood, which has led the generation to view digital resources as an extension of their own ideas.
Their innate connectivity allowed them to work collectively and creatively from a very young age, and, considering that 18- to 35-year-olds are the most diverse generation in U.S. history [PDF], according to a 2014 White House report, it’s no surprise that many of their ideas have potential for great success.
