Generational differences in work attitudes: The role of union instrumentality and socioeconomic status

Abstract

Although the work attitudes of new generations entering the labor market are significantly different from those of previous generations, whether these different attitudes are due to generational or age effects is unclear. This study analyzes the work attitudes of different generations of young adults of the same age using data from the 2006 and 2019 Korean Workplace Panel Surveys. The results show that millennials and Generation Z, the young adults in 2019, are less satisfied with their jobs and less committed to their organizations than Generation X, the young adults in 2006. Second, millennials and Generation Z have higher union instrumentality than Generation X, which, in turn, is positively associated with job satisfaction. Finally, perceived current socioeconomic status exacerbates the negative relationship between cohorts and job satisfaction, whereas perceived future improvement in socioeconomic status mitigates the negative relationship between cohorts and job commitment. The authors discuss the findings as they relate to economic disadvantages, including fewer opportunities in the labor market for new generations.