1965 – 1980
Generation X (Often short formed to GenX) is the demographic cohort group of people born between 1965 and 1980. They are the generation that comes after the Baby Boomers and before Millennials. Most of GenX are the children of The Silent Generation currently ranging in age from 45 to 60 years of age.
By the numbers, crammed in between the Baby Boomers, who currently number about 78 million around the world, and Millennials being the largest generation who number about 1.8 billion, GenX number is comparatively lower at 65 million (17% or the world population). Because of this, GenX have been referred to as the ‘forgotten generation’.
Some famous GenX are Nicholas Cage, Robert Downey Jr, Liam Neeson, Elon Musk, Mike Tyson, Shakira, Shania Twain, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Aniston, Kobe Bryant, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dwayne Johnson, Usher, Janet Jackson, Tiger Woods, and the list goes on.
Politically, GenX’rs grew up watching the fall of communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries and witnessed a rise in capitalism throughout the world.
In Western countries GenX’rs witnessed a move to conservative views. More than half of Fortune 500 companies have GenX CEO’s at the helm and include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Satya Nadella, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin. For the GenX generation promotions have come slowly, predominately due to Baby Boomers staying in positions much longer than expected.
GenX’ers are known for being resourceful, skeptical, and versatile. Many GenX grew up in one parent families hence their propensity for independent thinking. GenX are better educated than previous generations and the first generation with more college educated women. GenX are now in their midlife years.
In the workplace, Gen X’rs are motivated by a combination of factors, including autonomy, work life balance, opportunities for professional growth, maintaining meaningful work, and an appreciation of clear, constructive feedback from supervisors.