Work Values across Generations among Construction Professionals in the United States

Abstract

Employees hold a range of attitudes and beliefs about their work life. This paper’s contribution to the overall body of knowledge is to further the understanding of how construction professionals’ work values are influenced by generational status. Improved understanding of the relationship between work values and generations can inform construction companies’ support for current employees and recruitment of new employees. This study collected survey data to investigate the work values of construction professionals. The data were explored to examine similarities and differences in responses based on membership in a specific generation (e.g., baby boomer or Generation Xer). Prior research regarding work values and generational status presents mixed findings, with some studies reporting differences and others finding no differences among generations. Analysis of this survey data revealed very few differences among generations, suggesting that construction companies adapting practices based solely on generational status may be doing so to their detriment. The results contribute to the growing body of research that explores generational differences in work values.