What is Gen Z looking for in a job?

The first true digital natives

Gen Z is entering the workforce, and by 2025, they will make up 27% of the labor force in OECD countries (Western countries + South Korea and Japan). Companies will have no choice but to come to terms with the needs of this generation, which has very clear ideas! Today, let's try to understand what Gen Z wants from their job.

1. Technology, but not too much or too little 🦾

There's a bit of a paradox: this generation is the first to have lived their entire lives in direct contact with digital technology. This makes them by far the most capable of quickly adapting to new tech... but also the most likely to fear it! Most Gen Z workers want AI to be used responsibly and with sound judgment.

2. Clarity, both good and bad 📢

Gen Z wants clarity in the workplace: clear and explicit terms, understandable phrases, simple language, and answers to fundamental questions. To attract young people, it's essential to immediately talk about rights as well as duties, disclose the gross annual salary (RAL), explain job expectations, growth opportunities, and any potential training experiences.

3. Fair pay 💶

Since their teenage years, Gen Z has faced various economic and social crises, including the 2008 financial crisis, the worst since Wall Street's crash in 1929. Since then, all major Western economies have been in recession, and for younger people, buying a home will be a challenge. They aren't interested in years of underpaid training nor in becoming extremely wealthy. Gen Z simply wants fair compensation.

4. Social awareness 🌱

As mentioned earlier, Gen Z isn't necessarily looking to get rich, at least not as their top priority. Much more important is social well-being, a positive work environment, a truly inclusive and participative culture, and a company that doesn't only think about profit. If these (legitimate and human) requests are not met, Gen Z employees are likely to disengage, showing little enthusiasm for their work.

5. A bit of remote, a bit of in-person📍

We might expect a generation of digital natives to want to work entirely remotely. This is not the case. Gen Z desires a mix of both worlds: the time and location flexibility of remote and asynchronous work a few days a week, as well as the chance to be in the office some days to connect with clients and colleagues.
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Conclusion

With a few adjustments and by accommodating some (legitimate) requests, we have the opportunity to bring a determined, highly creative, and tech-savvy generation into our companies. It just takes understanding what Gen Z wants in the workplace. We hope this has been helpful. See you next time! 👋