Generation Y aren't as adaptable or efficient as older workers

A personality study of 4,000 people from three generations by people assessment firm Talent Q also shows that the ‘grumpy old men' stereotype may have some validity.

However, employees in their 20s - often known as ‘Generation Y' - have been found to be less adaptable to variety and change, less likely to be good decision-makers and less likely to cope with a fast pace of work.

They were also found to be less organised, less keen on planning their workload and less efficient than other generations.

Roger Holdsworth, Talent Q's chairman, said: "The days when a person had a job for life are long gone, so it's perverse that those of the Generation Y psyche appear to show less adaptability, efficiency and dynamism than older generations."

Baby boomers, however, who grew up in the 1960s, were found to be most likely to adopt new techniques and to favour radical ideas. But this age group were less socially confident, less ambitious and less likely to fit in with different types of people.

Holdsworth said: "Perhaps because of growing up in the 1960s, radicalism still shapes the baby boomer psyche. They remain more adaptable to change than younger people - very much confounding the view that ‘you can't teach an old dog new tricks'."

But he added: "Our studies found that baby boomers were generally less socially adept and comfortable with different types of people than younger generations, In other words, the ‘Victor Meldrew' caricature actually appears closer to the mark than we might think."