As young people begin to speak up and actively participate in various issues, from the climate crisis to economic and social challenges, they are also trying to prepare themselves for an uncertain future. In a world characterized by uncertainty, what strategies should young people adopt for the future and what individual resources should they utilize? We spoke with Evrim Kuran, the Universum Türkiye Leader and Generations Researcher, to understand how young people perceive this new world, how they react to the rapidly changing circumstances, which concepts might guide them, and the roles they will play in shaping the future.
Unlike their predecessors, new generations are experiencing a time where change is accelerating exponentially in all areas of life. Is it possible for these young individuals to face the future with optimism?
We need to be hopeful in order to adapt to the future. Hope can be defined as a positive outlook on the future and the act of making positive attributions. Regrettably, levels of hope have been significantly low worldwide, not just in Türkiye, for several decades. This decline results from a variety of factors, such as the global recession, socio-political tensions, an unnamed war, the rapid loss of life's meaning in various aspects, a paradigm shift in our understanding of business, and stress and health concerns exacerbated by the pandemic. This situation is unprecedented in recent history.
In the past, there were distinct differences in how generations in Türkiye and globally envisioned the future. Younger generations now harbor lower expectations for a better life and a more stable system. While the future is indeed more uncertain than ever, it's crucial to expand the conversation beyond this fact. Social mobility is defined as the ability of individuals to rise above their own generation's socio-economic level and that of previous generations. Unfortunately, social mobility is further behind than eve in Türkiye. Currently, Türkiye ranks last among all other OECD countries in the Global Social Mobility Index, as published by the World Economic Forum. This indicates that the prospect of young people living better lives than their parents is minimal. In today's climate, a college-educated individual can't anticipate buying a car similar to one their non-university educated parent could afford before turning 30. Consequently, the dreams of the current young generation cannot mirror those of their parents.
Advancements in digital tools and technology are making the world feel smaller. Young people can now respond instantly to events happening halfway across the globe. Furthermore, it is estimated that about 35 percent of global middle-class consumption will soon be driven by Generation Y. Given these facts, how do you evaluate the role of youth in shaping the future of the world?
Despite the aspirations they hold for their personal realities, it's admirable that young people are conscientiously taking responsibility for the world's future. Compared to their predecessors, newer generations feel a greater sense of responsibility for global injustices, environmental pollution, and the future of our planet. They are unhesitant in collective action towards these issues. However, they need genuine, sustainable governance rather than hollow future promises. They need organizations that prioritize sustainability and rationality over profitability and appearances.
Young people are also changing their consumption habits to reflect their environmental concerns. They aim to reduce plastic consumption, lower battery usage, and conserve energy. For instance, veganism is becoming increasingly prominent among new generations. The current global vegan population is now comparable to the population of Türkiye.
“It is admirable that young people are conscientiously taking responsibility for the world's future. Compared to their predecessors, newer generations feel a greater sense of responsibility for global injustices, environmental pollution, and the future of our planet. They are unhesitant in collective action towards these issues.”
Predictions suggest that global changes will significantly impact education, potentially leading to radical revisions in educational understanding and practices. What are your predictions for the future of education? In this context, what do you think lies ahead for the youth in Türkiye?
Currently, Türkiye has 208 universities, with 129 being public, and a student population exceeding 8 million. However, 29 percent of young people aged 15-29 are neither in education nor employment. On the other hand, three out of four organizations in the world face challenges in securing the talent they require. By 2030, it is expected that there will be a talent shortage of over 85 million people worldwide.
Until the 20th century, the primary function of universities was to disseminate and share knowledge, as books and academia were the quickest channels to access information. However, as we've moved beyond the 20th century, our access to information has increased exponentially, and we constantly grapple with a continually renewing volume of information via numerous channels. Now, it's more crucial to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate information, recognize practical knowledge, identify what will yield the most benefit in the least time, and possess the competence to keep pace with the rapidly changing world. The realities of a few years ago, today, and a few years from now can differ significantly.
Hence, I believe that placing excessive emphasis on a few years of university education can deter the motivation to pursue lifelong learning. Consequently, I find university education to be insufficient on a global scale.
As I am not a futurist, I can't predict what the future holds for young people. However, research suggests that talent shortages may increase as business requirements evolve and university education struggles to keep up. It is therefore important for young people to remain lifelong learners beyond their university education. My advice to young people is to build their psychological capital of hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy, as well as their intellectual capital. They should find role models, seek conditions that encourage positive future outlooks, embrace lifelong learning, and never give up.
I also believe it is essential for organizations to foster practices that would encourage young people on these issues In a nation where organizations support both unemployed youth and recent university graduates, provide realistic and positive messages about employment, and address learning gaps left by universities for the benefit of all employees, we can nurture a prepared and empowered youth for the future.
“My advice to young people is to build their psychological capital of hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy, as well as their intellectual capital. They should find role models, seek conditions that encourage positive future outlooks, embrace lifelong learning, and never give up.”
You suggest that as human life expectancy increases, it's likely we'll see more generations coexisting and working together. What cultural implications do you foresee from this coexistence of different generations, which you refer to as the demographic revolution, in the future?
Indeed, I define our current era as a demographic revolution. It's crucial for maintaining labor peace that all organizations accurately understand this demographic revolution and assess the varying codes of different generations without judgment. The concept of work has evolved over generations, introducing us to many new notions.
The baby boomer generation was characterized by a live-to-work mentality, while Generation X adopted a more prominent work-to-live approach. Generation Y introduced the desire for a balanced life, coining the term "work-life balance". Now, Generation Z's primary expectation is to "live meaningfully". They desire their work environment to serve a significant purpose, making it their top expectation from organizations and leaders.
The business climate has shifted focus across generations. For baby boomers, it was centered on the organization, while Generation X focused on products and services. Generation Y, or millennials, placed the consumer at the center of business. Generation Z, however, seeks experiences that place context at the heart of business.
Generation Z values sustainable activities and projects that create social impact within their organization. However, the demographic revolution highlights that each generation is influenced by different sources. Expertise was crucial to baby boomers, while Generation X valued case studies. For millennials, peer experiences significantly influence their own, while Generation Z is most influenced by an inspiring purpose.
According to the World's Most Attractive Employers Survey conducted by Universum, for which I am the leader in Türkiye, "inspiring purpose" is the most important factor for young people when choosing a company to work for. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion" is the other key factor. Beyond these, we observe that the organization's approach to innovation also impacts young people's preferences.