A growing gap appears to be emerging between how young professionals view their skills and how company leaders perceive them. According to LinkedIn’s latest Executive Confidence survey, only one in three executives believe entry-level employees have untapped potential that’s not being fully used in their current roles.
But early-career workers, especially Gen Z professionals, tell a different story.
Nearly 6 in 10 Gen Z employees (59%) say they bring a broad skill set to the table but feel underutilized at work, echoing similar feelings shared by 57% of the overall U.S. workforce.
Even more telling: 68% of Gen Z workers report knowing exactly which skills they need to develop to advance in their careers, which a higher percentage than any other generation. That suggests younger employees aren’t lacking drive or direction, but may be missing support and recognition from senior leadership.
The findings point to a disconnect that could be hindering companies from fully leveraging their youngest talent pool at a time when skill development and retention are more critical than ever.
