Millennials and Volunteering: Sector Differences and Implications for Public Service Motivation Theory

A new generation of younger workers is replacing retiring baby boomers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Those born after 1980,1 referred as "Millennials," are reported to manifest distinct behaviors, values, and attitudes as compared to previous generations, and this is said to be presenting new and complex challenges in the workplace (Chester, 2002; Ng, Schweitzer, & Lyons, 2010). Generational transformation is also identified as one of the emerging factors that will shape public service in the near future (Perry & Buckwalter, 2010). Ironically, though, one of the most contested characteristics of the members of the Millennial generation is the nature of their social service orientation. While a number of experts characterize these young individuals as civically involved, socially conscious, interested in helping others and solving the problems of the world (Howe & Strauss, 1993; 2000; Greenberg & Weber, 2009), others portray them as the exact opposite, pointing to their narcissism, materialism, lower empathy, declining concern for others, and lower civic engagement (Twenge, 2006; 2013; Twenge, Campbell, & Freeman, 2012). This conflict has clearly been reflected in the "Generation We" versus "Generation Me" dichotomy, used by different scholars in their depictions of this young cohort. Such core values may certainly affect both social participation behaviors and the career choices of individuals.Attracting talented individuals to public service careers to replace the retiring baby boomers is a current challenge for public and nonprofit agencies (Brookings, 2011). Public service careers have been depicted as a calling (Holzer, 1999), and the theory of public service motivation (PSM theory) has been developed by public administration scholars to explain what leads individuals to seek such roles (Perry & Wise, 1990). PSM theory posits that individuals with higher levels of public service motivation value intrinsic rewards as much as or even more than extrinsic rewards, and are compelled to public service careers more than others because of the service opportunities that these careers provide (Perry & Wise, 1990). Research has shown that there is a correlation between PSM and the appeal of working in the public and nonprofit sector, relative to the for-profit sector (Clerkin & Coggburn, 2012; Wright, & Christensen, 2010). PSM scholars have also shown that individuals in government and non-profit jobs are more likely to act in other pro-social ways (Brewer, 2003; Ertas, 2012; 2013; Houston, 2006; Lee, 2011).Does this mean that the socially conscious and engaged "Generation We" would embrace careers in the government and nonprofit sector? Assuming that they are interested in helping others and solving communal problems, would they be more likely to volunteer in formal and informal ways than their older counterparts? Or, alternatively, would the self-important and materialistic "Generation Me" be less likely to be represented among the public and non-profit workforce compared to older generations? Since they are depicted as having declining concern for others and lower civic engagement, would they be less likely to volunteer than older workers? Recent studies have found that public and non-profit employees participate in social activities at a higher rate than their private-sector counterparts. Is this trend maintained for public and non-profit sector Millennial employees? Do they volunteer more than their private-sector peers? Are there differences with respect to their participation in formal versus informal settings? Are the differences more prominent in certain domains of volunteering activity?This study examines these questions by using the 2010 Current Population Survey (CPS) volunteering supplement data. The CPS is a nationally representative sample of US citizens. Despite the increasing presence of Millennials in the workplace, there are relatively few comparative studies of participation behavior between younger and older workers across the public, for-profit private, and non-profit sectors. …