What’s so special about Gen-Y’ers

It has been predicted that by 2020, Generation Y (AKA millenials) will form over 50% of the global workforce. Changes in their upbringing and lifestyle brings opportunities and challenges to dentistry.

Generation Y have lived through the exponential development of technology and are buying houses and having families later, to list but a few changes. The use of social media has transformed the way clinicians interact with patients and each other, as well as enhancing learning and education, whilst encouraging innovation and creativity.

Dentistry is a changing profession and currently:

• There is an increasing proportion of female dentists, especially amongst the younger end of the profession;

• Dental students are expected to graduate in 2018/19 with a final-year debt of at least £60,786;

• More dentists than ever expect to work within private dentistry and are looking at additional income revenues within and outside of dentistry;

• 33% of performer-only NHS dentists reported very high or high levels of self-reported morale, a drop of 10% since 2013/14;

• GDC and indemnity fees and practice overheads are at their highest ever;

• Average annual NHS income is dwindling, and is at its lowest ever recorded.

All these changes will affect the working lives and attitudes of Generation Y dentists. It is crucial to ascertain what generation Y want from their careers as understanding and embracing this will have a great influence on the future of the dental profession. To understand the effect of these changes on Generation Y dentists and the potential future impact on practising dentistry, read the full article as published in PDJ click here. NP