Generation Z in the workplace and the threats that they may pose for our future

Firstly, what are the career aspirations for Gen Z? 14- to 27-year-olds mainly have a desire for meaningful work, a healthy work-life balance, and an impact on society. They value human connection, frequent check-ins with their supervisors to evaluate their performance, and clarity on the expectations of their job. Despite this desperation for social networking, Gen Z actually favour online platforms and digital communication over in-person events because they take advantage of hiding behind a screen to make themselves feel more confident to talk to people in a more secure way. This, however, will not aid them with their declining ability for social networking and interaction. Gen Z would also much prefer to start their own businesses rather than having to take instructions from others because they want to listen to their own ideas. Therefore, they would much prefer an entrepreneurial career as they are willing to face uncertainties by being innovative and wish to be the author of their own stories. Gen Z’s most important values are diversity, trust, mental health, and sustainability which they will anticipate in the workplace as they prioritize their own beliefs over those of others.  

The principles of Gen Z can be greatly positive for potential employers but may also create setbacks. They are very technology-focused because they have been exposed to it for much longer than any generation before them, so they have a strong sense of responsibility within social and environmental settings. Gen Z use tech and apps to make their lives easier but it also means that they struggle with face-to-face conversation in work with their colleagues and find interpersonal communication skills difficult and less familiar. They also often feel very easily anxious about their jobs, long-term financial stability and major life steps. This then influences Gen Z’s ability to stay in one place and they may find traditional office interaction, such as public speaking, quite challenging. Which then means that less and less young people will work in an office environment and prefer to be employed from the comfort of their homes. Over half of Gen Zs now in employment consider themselves to be ‘job hoppers’ and barely intend to stay in their current roles for more than a year/ two years because they want a fresh start quite regularly, can struggle to fit in and easily become dissatisfied. Gen Z also struggles with loyalty to their employers because they have vastly different ambitions for their futures than others before them.   

Gen Zs also believe in the importance of their independence which can also have many negative effects. They aim for self-sufficiency and a good work-life balance, which no other generations have seen as valuable before. Gen Z greatly prefer setting out their flexible working hours because they are not willing to sacrifice their personal lives in the place of professional success and they feel more comfortable when ideally deciding their own working structure. Technology has also had an influence on Gen Z’s views of their lives with celebrities and online influencers on social media platforms demonstrating to younger viewers on how they should plan out their careers and lives by giving them an unrealistic idea of what being an adult in the world resembles. In addition, this has also led Gen Z to struggle with the economy. They face more difficulty in finding their financial stability and security than their parents did when they were the same age, making them feel inferior and pressured to act in a certain way when dealing with their money which also depends on their upbringing. Further due to the state of the current monetary world, with inflation, increases in prices and uncertainty of their salaries, Gen Z find it a lot easier to handle their finances because they value money overall as less important than every other generation before them.  

Along with our ever-changing society, Gen Zs and their preceding generations, are also now facing the difficulties of Generation Alpha. Young teenagers and even kids being born this minute are becoming increasingly aware of technology from the earliest stage of their lives, and this has many risks and dangers. The changing classroom environment and how kids are being brought up affects education systems, parenting abilities and even children’s attention span by how long they can concentrate. These young children also have an unhealthy addiction to screens and the impact that early exposure to social media is having on them is creating many negatives. Online influencers are also making kids consciously aware of their looks, leading to less focus in school and more on buying the latest skincare trends, aimed for adults who need it rather than younger people. This in turn will affect Gen Alpha’s introduction to work differently again to other generations. 

But despite their independence, values and shifting society, Gen Zs’ biggest focus in their lives is their desire to become rich early on whilst also spending time in their social circle, rather than concentrating on becoming heavily involved in the workforce. Gen Z’s mostly have their lives all perfectly mapped year by year and they have their dreams already laid out. They strive to make an impact, create their footnote in history, and build a legacy by forgetting old memories and building new ones. Whilst this can be positive in many respects, it can also create intimidation and fears for previous generations because of their uncertainty around technology. Especially within careers based around this fundamental part of the upcoming years, which may endanger many people’s livelihoods but will also become integral for numerous others.