Survey: All generations favor email for workplace communication

Brand managers hoping to reach people at their work desks favor one tool for doing it: email.

A new study by Spike shows that 77% of U.S. workers prefer email, and a mere 23% choose messaging apps, although all those surveyed use both. Moreover, email leads among all age groups, although younger people are slightly less in favor of it.

The survey of 1,000 Americans shows that 31% of 18- to 34-year-olds prefer email, as do 48% of those in the 35–65 age range and 35% of those age 55 and older.

After email, the youngest cohort is most likely to like messaging (26%) and phone calls (23%). The oldest workers are most apt to like phone calls (29%). Oddly, they are most prone to favoring videoconferencing, although those percentages are all in the single digits.

Males are more likely than females to prefer email, by 44% to 34%. Still, females place email first.

Why do people like email? For 52%, it’s because email allows them to read and respond whenever they want. Still, 26% like messaging apps for the same reason.