Young Generation Z Employees Arrive Late, Challenge Authority, and Crave Constructive Criticism in the Workplace
In a recent report published by LEVRA, the 2025 Human Skills Gap Analysis & Insights, significant challenges faced by Generation Z in the workplace are brought to light, particularly in areas of soft skills such as interacting with seniors, collaboration, professional behavior, emotional intelligence, and feedback delivery.
The report, based on over 2,700 responses from participants aged 16 to 29 across 31 skill sets, reveals that about 32% of employees, including many from Generation Z, lack the necessary skills to perform in their current roles. This is not just a future problem but a current reality exacerbated by rapid technological disruption and changing workplace demands.
One of the critical areas of concern is emotional intelligence and professional behavior. Generation Z often struggles with professional workplace behaviors, including respectful interaction with senior colleagues and effective collaboration across diverse teams. Emotional intelligence limitations reduce their ability to empathize and communicate well, impacting teamwork and feedback delivery processes.
Another challenge lies in the ability to give and receive constructive feedback. The ability to do so is less developed among younger workers, partly due to less experience and emotional maturity, which can lead to misunderstandings and performance issues in professional settings.
The report also highlights that collaboration skills are weak due to generational and digital communication gaps. Generation Z's preference for digital communication sometimes hampers nuanced interpersonal skills needed for working closely with senior or cross-generational colleagues in face-to-face contexts.
To address these challenges, HR and business leaders are encouraged to shift from short-term operational workforce planning toward strategic skills-based talent development that focuses on these soft skill gaps alongside technical competencies. Leveraging AI and data insights can help identify and close gaps in emotional intelligence and professional conduct more effectively.
The report calls for employers to support their younger workforce and introduce 'Human Skills' training early in the employee journey. One example of a company doing this innovatively is LEVRA itself, which trains employees' Human Skills through immersive and personalized learning.
In conclusion, while much of the existing reporting focuses on broad skills shortages in areas like AI and data analytics, these findings emphasize that human and relational skills gaps—such as emotional intelligence, professionalism, and intergenerational communication—are critical challenges for Generation Z that impact workplace integration and performance. Employers are urged to address these issues to improve productivity, retention, and engagement among their younger workforce.
[1] LEVRA (2025). 2025 Human Skills Gap Analysis & Insights Report. [5] Taylor, D. (2025). Foreword. In LEVRA (2025). 2025 Human Skills Gap Analysis & Insights Report.
- To tackle the current challenges facing Generation Z in the workplace, particularly concerning soft skills like emotional intelligence and professional behavior, HR and business leaders are advised to prioritize strategic skills-based talent development, blending soft skill improvement with technical competencies.
- In an effort to improve productivity, retention, and engagement among younger workers, employers are encouraged to implement 'Human Skills' training programs, similar to those employed by companies like LEVRA, which emphasize immersive and personalized learning experiences to fill the gaps in areas like emotional intelligence and professional conduct.
