Roughly three in ten workers will belong to Generation Z by 2030, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. That shift matters for defense contractors such as HX5, which depends on scientists, engineers, and technical specialists who can qualify for security clearances.

Margarita Howard, the company’s sole owner, CEO, and president, has spent time studying what this cohort wants. Her read is that younger professionals expect visible paths to promotion, current technology, and an employer whose mission they believe in.

Restless Workers, Long Clearances

Keeping these employees is its own puzzle. A World Economic Forum survey found that 38% of Gen Z respondents expect to leave their jobs within a year. Defense firms face an added hurdle because clearance reviews can stretch for months or even years, while technology companies can hire immediately and often pay more.

Margarita Howard has acknowledged the generation’s distinct preferences. Research describes a cohort that expects concrete growth opportunities rather than slow advancement and has little patience for outdated systems. Her company has made changes with those preferences in mind while still following the rules that govern defense work.

Traditional hierarchies in government contracting can also feel slow to people who grew up with instant feedback. Regulatory requirements set a deliberate pace that commercial tech firms do not share.

A Digital Workplace Under Tight Controls

HX5 has updated how employees communicate. Howard described the reasoning: “We believe, and we’re seeing, that Gen Z thrives in digital-native environments. And we’ve modernized some of our internal communication processes to include those platforms that we believe that they’re comfortable in, such as instant messaging, interactive project management, and some tool/workspace changes.”

Flexible scheduling has followed in select roles. Margarita Howard said hybrid arrangements are available where appropriate, though security standards remain strict. The company also works to stay current on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, a priority she says she identified early.

For a Florida-based firm with more than 1,000 employees spread across 34 states, those adjustments are part of how HX5 intends to compete for the next wave of STEM graduates. Refer to this article for additional information.

Learn more about Margarita Howard on https://about.me/margaritahoward