THE PROFESSIONAL workforce is dramatically changing as a new generation of younger, university-educated and knowledge-hungry workers launch their careers, Forrester has found. THE PROFESSIONAL workforce is dramatically changing as a new generation of younger, university-educated and knowledge-hungry workers launch their careers, Forrester has found. The "Millennials" - born between 1980 and 2000 - have "an innate ability" to use technology, are comfortable multi-tasking while using a diverse range of digital media, and literally demand interactivity as they construct knowledge.

Millennials lack the workaholic drive of their burnt-out predecessors, but they compensate by using many technologies - often simultaneously - to get the job done quickly, and have a personal life as well. They don`t have the skills and experience of the many retirees they are replacing, but they look to technology to help fill this gap. Forrester says managers must understand the work style differences among the multi-generational work force and develop collaborative work environments that give millennials the information they need - just in time and integrated with the job. Forrester`s data shows that they like social networking tools and learning online (for example, blogs, IM, Friendster-type sites, and e-learning), which means jobs must connect people with each other and to the Web.