How younger workers find answers
The way people learn and solve problems at work has undergone a seismic shift, driven largely by the expectations and behaviours of younger workers. Millennials and Gen Z -the majority of today’s workforce- have grown up in a world of instant access. For them, answers have always been just a search away. Yet, many businesses still rely on outdated training materials, expecting employees to wade through PDFs, watch lengthy training videos, or dig through shared drives to find the information they need.
It’s time to rethink how you share knowledge, because younger workers won’t wait.
The digital-first generations
For those who are still unsure, Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996 and were the first to enter the workforce with the internet at their fingertips. Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012 by comparison, grew up in an era of smartphones, social media, and AI-powered assistants. These digital-first workers expect information to be available on demand, in formats that are easy to consume and act upon. They’re accustomed to Googling, asking Siri, or getting instant answers from ChatGPT rather than flipping through a manual; and research supports this shift.
A study by McKinsey found that 60% of Gen Z employees prefer digital learning tools over traditional training methods. Deloitte reports that 71% of younger workers expect their employers to provide technology that makes work more efficient. In particular, AI4SP reported that 80% of Gen Z prefer attaining knowledge from short-form social videos and AI assistants. Taking it further than preference, a YouGov survey of more than 1,000 adults found that about one in ten Gen Z-ers and Millennials already use AI tools daily or multiple times a day.
Yet, too often, workplace knowledge remains buried in documents, lost in email threads, or trapped in the minds of experienced workers who may soon retire or move on; potentially lost to the newest generation of workers forever.
Myths about young workers and work ethic
A common misconception about Gen Z we thought we’d tackle here is a lack of work ethic or patience.
In reality, they are highly efficiency-driven and refuse to waste time on outdated, manual processes when technology can do the job faster. They’re not reluctant to work hard—they’re unwilling to work inefficiently. For instance, younger workers are often labelled as ‘impatient’ when they question why they should sift through a 50-page manual for a simple answer. The truth is, they’ve grown up in a world where information gathering is instant and intuitive, and they expect the same from their workplace. It’s not about avoiding effort; it’s about valuing time.
Another myth is that they aren’t willing to “pay their dues” like previous generations. The reality is they’re still prepared to learn and grow, but they expect companies to equip them with the best tools to be effective from day one. When they see a business resisting technology that could make work smoother and faster, they see inefficiency—not tradition.
Younger workers are already turning to AI to get around these inefficiencies. A TalentLMS survey of 1,000 Gen Z professionals found that 46% of them believe they get better guidance from AI than from their managers. Another 46% said they prefer asking AI about work-related questions rather than turning to their colleagues or managers. They are already adopting AI-driven way-finding models—but without access to the most accurate, company-specific information.
PDFs and videos won’t cut
For frontline workers and engineers in the field, the idea of stopping to read a PDF or watch a video simply isn’t practical. They need real-time answers in the flow of work. Training that relies on static content fails because it is often inaccessible when workers need immediate guidance, inefficient when a short answer is buried in long-form content, and outdated by the time best practices evolve.
Instead, younger workers expect instant, AI-powered solutions that fit their natural way of learning.
Beyond training, digital tools are critical to ensuring younger workers stay productive, engaged, and empowered. AI-driven assistants and knowledge-sharing platforms don’t just help workers learn, they enable them to perform their jobs more effectively.
Lorefully is built for the modern workforce. It gives organisations a way to capture and redistribute irreplaceable worker knowledge not in static files, but through an intuitive, AI-powered assistant. Instead of searching through outdated documents, workers can simply ask a question and receive expert-backed solutions drawn from the collective experience of their entire team; in an instant.
As Millennials and Gen Z continue to shape the workforce, businesses that fail to adapt will struggle with engagement, retention, and productivity. Organisations that embrace AI-driven knowledge-sharing will not only keep up—they’ll set the standard for the future of work.
The question is no longer whether companies should modernise their approach to workplace learning, but how fast they can do it. Younger workers won’t wait, and with Lorefully, they don’t have to.
Early access now open. Email us to arrange an introduction: hello@lorefully.com
