Who will be our workforce in 5-10 years? They will be the Millennials.
Millennials? It’s important to clearly define the term millennial. By most definitions, millennials were born between 1982 and 1996. These individuals’ personalities were shaped by the personal technology era combined with parental guidance that was nurturing to a fault (i.e., an everyone gets a trophy mentality). Currently, 50% of our Gelderman staff fall into this category. So what next?
With millennials, it is important to motivate them in order to be successful in business. Motivation comes in many forms, this is only a short list: provide flexibility with accountability and responsibility, provide positive reinforcement and ongoing training and create a culture of continuous improvement by engaging and asking for ideas. This week (April 30-May 2, 2012) at RIM Park in Waterloo, Ontario; Skills Canada – Ontario is holding the Ontario Technological Skills Competition which is the largest in Canada for elementary, secondary and college students. Skills Canada – Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options for Ontario youth.
In the Landscape Design category, students had to use Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software, competitors must showcase their landscape design and drawing skills. The designs/drawings were judged on creativity, meeting the client’s (and the site’s) requirements and plant selection.
In the Landscape Garden category, students competed in teams of two, they were tested by building a garden based on a common set of criteria and drawings. Components of this included, creating wall (s) from precast paving units, laying paving stones, plant selection and placement of landscape rocks.
It is very encouraging to see young people interested in the Skill Trades. Canadian Living recently suggested that Canada’s 10 hottest jobs included Skilled Trades (#2). In the next two decades, 40 percent of new jobs are supposed to be in skilled trades and technologies. ([http://www.canadianliving.com/life/work/](http://www.canadianliving.com/life/work/)) If you want a job that pays above the national average and don’t want to be stuck in an office environment, then this is the sector for you.
