Which generation has become the nation's largest livinggeneration by population? Baby boomers? Generation X? Nope. Themillennials—aka Generation Y—are projected to number more than 75million this year, according to Pew Research.

They're the young professionals of today. In fact, more than 1in 3 American workers in 2015 is a millennial, ranging in age from18 to 34. That means millennials have the largest share in thecountry's workforce, and as more finish college and enter theworking world, the number will only increase.

That's a big deal for employers—or it should be—and here'swhy.

Every generation through the ages has a unique set ofcharacteristics — and its own expectations. Millennials are nodifferent, which is why it's important for employers to know moreabout this group and, most importantly, how to recruit them.

Traditionally, a company's employee benefits package serves asone key way to appeal to job candidates. Millennials, however, havea different range of criteria than other age groups. And they'renot necessarily swept off their feet by a typical employee benefitspackage.

Just under half of all millennials consider their overallbenefits package to be very important for their job satisfaction,according to research by the Society for Human Resource Management.As a result, millennials simply aren't enrolling in benefits withthe same frequency as other groups.

Just a note about making generalizations—clearly not everyperson labeled as a millennial will feel exactly the same. Still,as a broker, there are some things you can do to help your clientscreate a millennial-approved benefits package.

Typically, if you ask a millennial what matters most when itcomes to employee benefits, you're likely to hear answers likethis:

1) Choice and Variety

Millennials are accustomed to having access to what they wantwhen they want, especially when it comes to information. They wantchoices and are often offended by a one-size-fits-all approach.Overall, they look for a well-rounded array of benefits, which maymean that a mix of employer-paid products with supplemental andvoluntary products will play an increasingly important role formany employers.

2) Customization and Control

Personalization is highly important to millennials. When they'reoffered benefits, they expect those benefits to be tailored totheir needs. And, they want control over how they spend theirmoney. While giving them plenty of options puts them in thedriver's seat, too many options may paralyze them. Try to strike ahealthy balance by considering a choice of plan designs within aproduct category, or perhaps core/buy-up options.

3) True Simplicity

Employee benefits shouldn't be complicated, and communication isthe key. Millennials are looking for clear, easy-to-follow steps,which includes systems that are easy to use. It will be to youradvantage to recommend working with a carrier who embracessimplicity and offers varying enrollment strategies. This gives youflexibility in recommending the one that's likely to be mosteffective.

4) Interaction and Collaboration

Social is the name of the game for the millennial generation.Peer networks play a huge role in decision-making. Employers wouldbe wise to offer ways their employees can interact and network toget information. Blogs are an important way millennials buildtrust, gather information and connect. Promote them with yourclients. They work.

5) Technology, not Paper

Clearly, the biggest difference between millennials and othergenerations is their use of technology—and their expectation thattechnology also be important to others with whom they interact.They want to use tools that make benefits easier, such as apps andonline portals. And they want alternatives to paper. They trusttechnology.

Embrace these concepts and you'll appeal tomillennials. Additionally, your clients will appreciate yourassistance in their recruiting and retention efforts. Lastly, Iencourage you to continue to learn more about this growinggeneration of workers. It will serve you well as you reach out toclients who want to build a stronger connection with this powerfulgeneration.