Comparative analysis of the X/Y/Z generations on the labor market in the European Union countries

Motivation: Today’s workplace is dominated by three generations: X, Y and Z. Each of them was formed in a different environment and is characterized by distinct needs and attitudes towards private and professional life. Identifying differences and similarities between generations and therefore adapting to generational change has become one of the main challenges of the modern labor market.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine what factors affect the level of involvement and well-being of representatives of generations X, Y and Z in the context of work, as well as to show the similarities and differences between generations in the context of the labor market in the European Union countries.Materials and methods: The study was based on the data from 2021 European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS) providing information on job quality, work organization, work-life balance, health and well-being. To identify determinants of the level of commitment and well-being of employees, ordered logit models were used, based on the selection of the best set of explanatory variables and the conducted statistical analysis.Results: A comparative analysis of labor market metrics showed the differences between generations, primarily in terms of workplace support and levels of discrimination. The study shows that the level of engagement and well-being of employees from all generations is largely determined by the opportunity to utilize their skills and levels of job satisfaction and work-life balance. The most significant differences in the determinants of the level of engagement and well-being of employees from generations X, Y and Z concerned the level of trust towards employees and employers, the opportunity to learn new things and the discrimination experienced. The results obtained allowed for proposing several recommendations for employers.