Are Companies About to Have a Gen X Retention Problem?

DDI's Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research analyzed data from more than 25,000 leaders across industries and regions with the Conference Board and Ernst & Young to examine leadership advancement by generation, reports the Harvard Business Review . Surprisingly, 66 percent of Generation X leaders had received only one promotion or none at all in the past five years, versus two or more promotions handed out to 52 percent of millennials and 58 percent of senior baby boomers. Underlying factors include boomers opting to stay in the workforce longer than previous generations due to financial insecurity and rising healthcare costs. Meanwhile, millennials are pushing to catch up in terms of employment and salary because of mounting student loan debts, with Gen Xers often going unappreciated for the vital role they fill, especially in bridging the digital divide. The analysis further found that Gen X leaders also are more loyal to employers than their millennial counterparts. Retention or cultivation of Gen X leaders can be achieved by personalizing their learning and development and infusing objectivity into hiring and promotion practices.