Gen Z: How digital ready is this generation?

• 84% of Gen Z respondents have positive feelings about the impact of technology on their jobs. They are also the least optimistic among the other generations of workers.

Top 3 worries of Gen Z:

• 51% believe technology will make their role redundant;

• 26% believe they won’t have the right skills; and

• 12% believe they won’t be able to learn the right skills.

• 62% of Vietnamese Gen Z without degrees believes that automation presents more risks than opportunities, as compared to Gen Z respondents with degrees and technical qualifications (47%). 

This finding confirms what we have long known to be true: digital skills are key. According to an earlier PwC study analysing the potential long-term impact of automation globally4, the proportion of existing jobs that might be at high risk of automation will differ based on:

• Industry sectors;
• Occupations within those industries; 
• Workers of different ages, gender and education levels. 

• 72% of Vietnamese Gen Z expresses a strong desire to learn digital skills, compared to 52% of their global counterparts. Vietnamese respondents also ranked higher in wanting to be proficient in a specific technology (VN: 37% vs Global: 28%).

It is not surprising that Vietnamese Gen Z entering the workforce is also keen to be equipped with both business and soft skills. Their responses are higher than the those of all other groups. In line with PwC Talent Trends 2020 report,  these skills are referred to as transferable, ‘no regrets’ skills - a combination of creativity, problem solving, and digital skills.

• 46% of Vietnamese Gen Z believes that businesses and governments have a greater responsibility to help people upskill, while 50% believe that upskilling is a personal journey.

Our survey highlights that Vietnamese Gen Z are aware of a potential mismatch between skills and the needs of the future labour market, owing to constantly evolving technologies. 

It is, therefore, timely to open up a genuine and fully inclusive conversation with employers, government and society around the following questions:

• Are Vietnam’s youth receiving the right formal and/or informal training that they will need to keep up with the rapidly changing 4th Industrial Revolution business landscape?
• What systemic changes need to be initiated today to equip Vietnamese youth with the skills of tomorrow? 

• 80% of working Gen Z believes that remote working will become more prevalent post COVID-19.

Organisations will do well to adopt a different mindset to attract and retain Vietnamese Gen Z talent who, by 2025, will account for almost a third of the Vietnam workforce 2. This sentiment highlights the urgency for organisations to be ready to meet the cultural and infrastructural demands of remote working, while taking careful steps to mitigate cyber risks.