Work and Life Goals

This chapter provides our analyses of the important events and decisions that many Post-Millennials will be encountering prior to entering the full-time work forces. We consider the implications of increasing numbers pursuing post-secondary education. Our assessments extend to how decisions taken at this stage will influence their financial status and, for many, other major life decisions including marriage, children, homeownership and geographical location. We explore how they may choose to engage in critical social construction to develop alternate understanding of concepts related to marriage and parenting; and to extend this to redefining work and career. Many of these changes are gendered in nature: women—now in the majority in post-secondary institutions; more accepting of evolving identities; and, facing fewer barriers to fulfilling careers—may be strong drivers of the new “adulthood”, “career” or “work day”. As a result of their extended life experiences, many Post-Millennials are likely to arrive with a better sense of who they are, what is of importance to them and what they are expecting from employment—and employers. We posit how these expectations will influence a desire for blending work and leisure; views on social justice and fairness in the workplace; and their capacity to challenge authority.