Sunday, August 26, 2001

How Cool is Your Community For Generation X

(Labor Day, 2001; Jackson, WI) America’s first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in New York City in 1882, a triumph for workers who fought for humane work conditions. Fast-forward 119 years. Today, employers offer laptops, PDA’s and chair massages to satisfy workers. But that’s only part of the picture: today’s young talent value cool communities, too.

“Hot Jobs-Cool Communities” is a survey of America’s coolest places to live and work for Generation X’ers, Americans aged 20-40. It’s the first survey to place equal value on both facets of a work-life experience.



How do you determine a community’s coolness? “You start,” says the survey’s author Rebecca Ryan, “by identifying what matters most to young talent.” Hot Jobs-Cool Communities measures 43 variables ranging from crime and commutes to farmers markets and musicians.



The survey also lists the hottest jobs within the cool communities. Ryan offers five tips to organizations who want to lure Gen X talent:



1. Be flexible in scheduling (flex time, job sharing, telecommuting, and compressed workweek)



2. Offer career pathways and/or career enrichment programs



3. Use technology for its intended purpose, to share information



4. Clearly explain how the employee’s work has meaning



5. Demonstrate your commitment to a work-life balance by participating in diverse community events like ethnic and Pride festivals, community-wide wire-ups, and extreme sporting events.



The Hot Jobs-Cool Communities survey is available online at http://www.keepyoungtalent.com.



Rebecca Ryan is president of Next Generation Consulting, a firm specializing in corporate and community strategies to attract and retain young talent. To schedule Rebecca for a TV, radio, newspaper, online, or other interview call (888) 922-9596 or email her, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).