Preparing for the Next Generation: Profiles of Millennial City Managers and Their Approach to the Job

Millennials make up the largest share of the U.S. workforce; prioritize work–life balance, personal growth, and a sense of community; and may be well suited for a public service sector facing a wave of retirements. Recommendations for attracting millennials suggest cultural shifts within public administration are needed, yet knowledge remains limited on millennials already in public management. This article recaps the ongoing generational transition and helps fill these knowledge gaps with interviews of four millennial-aged city managers in Iowa. If validated by further research, these exploratory findings suggest millennial city managers will navigate the profession without requiring wholescale cultural shifts.