I know you’ve heard a lot from me about Millennials in the workplace.  They’re the largest generation since the baby boomers and already make up the majority of the workforce.  They’re tech savvy, multi-taskers who work well in groups, appreciate frequent feedback and love to learn.  They’re idealistic and want to make a difference in the world.

But they are aging.  The oldest ones are 35 (the horror!) and there’s a new kid on the block: It’s Generation Z.  Born between 1995 and 2010 the oldest ones are turning 21 this year and entering the workforce.

In many ways, Millennials and Gen Z’ers are similar. They both have similar communication and work styles and desire career advancement, flexibility and work/life balance.

But there are some important distinctions and here are two I found most interesting:

First, they are above and beyond techno-savvy, they are true digital natives.  They don’t know life without technology, turning to their phones and tablets to communicate, socialize, learn, apply for a job, shop, meditate and even sleep.  It’s an essential.

Not surprisingly, they are more keenly aware of the distractions presented by technology , and struggle to reign them in (all the more reason why employers should have reasonable tech-use policies in place).

Second, they are more concerned about stability and job security than Millenials.

They saw the effects of the financial crisis at an impressionable age.  They watched parents get laid off, and saw neighbors lose their homes. They saw healthcare cost and student debt go through the roof.    As a result, they are financially anxious (they save more), and tend to be risk-averse, practical, and pragmatic.

While Millennials were criticized for lacking focus, Gen Z plans ahead, developing contingency plans for a fluctuating or unreliable job market.   Because they tend to favor career and financial stability, they’re more interested in developing skills and building a career in one place rather than jumping around like their millennial counterparts.  I’d say that’s good news.

So just when we were adapting and thought we had figured out Millennials, now we need to prepare for the arrival of Gen Z into the workplace. You heard it here first.

©Copyright Eva Del Rio

Eva Del Rio is creator of HR Box™ – tools for small businesses and startups. Send questions to Eva@evadelrio.com