The Long Tail of Generation Z and the Future of a Freelance Economy

Abstract

The alphabet is running out of letters to tag new generations of young people who are entering the workforce. Gen Xers are now executive managers as Gen Ys settles into corporate careers. But what happens when Gen Z moves into the workplace? It seems oddly appropriate that these true digital natives will close out the alphabet because they are poised to reinvent the very nature of what we think of as work and business. Globalization and automation are both decisive factors in the creation of goods and services, often with less and less human oversight. At the same time, technology is creating a new, decentralized and digitized workforce that work more as free agents than company employees. This article will examine how companies can manage the transition of a workforce that is automated and can work from anywhere.

Citation

Wheatley, A.C. and Hibbler-Britt, L.M. (2019), "The Long Tail of Generation Z and the Future of a Freelance Economy", Gordon, P.A. and Overbey, J.A. (Ed.) Advances in the Technology of Managing People: Contemporary Issues in Business (The Changing Context of Managing People), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 83-92. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78973-073-920191007