6 top benefits of hiring young talent

Youth in Thailand will soon face the greatest responsibility of driving the economic future of the country as it officially enters an ageing society, and the country’s low unemployment rate of 1.5% reveals a competitive arena where companies must strive to attract and hire the right talent while providing a rewarding environment for its workforce.  In a world of ample employment choices, companies need to remain relevant to this segment, incentivizing new ideas and concepts that increase people’s appeal and desire to form part of them.

In contrast, employers recruit fewer young people – their unemployment rates remain higher than the country average, at 6% for those between 15-24 years old, and 7% for females of the same age. It is more important now than ever to embrace and explore the benefits that young people bring to your business, starting with these five:

1 - New energy and perspective

Young employees can bring fresh perspective and a different way of thinking to your business. Most young workers are eager to learn, build their experience and apply their skills in the workforce. This enthusiasm is great for team building, productivity and workplace morale. Younger employees will also give you an advantage if you want to target the millennial market as they understand how to reach and communicate with their peers.

2 - Workforce development

Young people are used to learning. If they have just come out of school or tertiary education, they will still retain a mindset that will help them absorb training more readily. As they don’t have a huge amount of previous experience, young people are essentially a ‘blank slate.’ This affords your company an opportunity to develop a workforce of young people specifically trained to meet their organization’s needs and culture.

3 - Better leverage of resources

Often, wages for a young employee are less expensive than those for a more experienced worker. This means that companies can free up more experienced workers to work at strategic level and assign entry-level positions to young people.  There are also options for formal trainee and apprenticeships which can be of great benefit to both employers and young people.

4 - Tech advancement & early adoption

Millennials have grown up around technology. Their natural affinity for tech and their ability to apply and understand different technologies quickly sets them apart from other generations in the workforce. Hiring young people has a positive and important impact on driving the business forward in the adoption and use of new software and technology.

5 - Adaptability & agility

When unexpected circumstances arise, younger people are better equipped to respond to sudden change.  This can be of great benefit in the shifting landscape of the modern-day workplaces where process, technology and priorities are constantly changing. With economic, social and political boundaries in a state of flux, adaptability gives young people an advantage in a work environment that is more agile, changeable and fast-paced than ever before.

6 - Increased corporate citizenship ratings

Supporting young people to have meaningful training shows your support for children’s rights and can reflect in better performance in Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Ratings. From Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBP), Providing decent work for young workers can be linked back to Corporate Responsibility Business Practice #3 and highlight your good corporate citizenship.