The workplace is experiencing a shift driven not only by technology like AI and Zoom but also by a new generation quietly reshaping the landscape. Generation Z (Gen Z), born between 1997 and 2010, is making a significant impact on the workforce with roughly two billion people globally and projected to make up 27 per cent of the workforce by 2025. This generation values purpose, flexibility, and making a positive impact, emphasizing a greater change in the meaning of work, collaboration, and career goals.
Gen Z differs from older generations in prioritizing purpose and balance over competition and autonomy, having grown up in the digital age. They demand authenticity from employers and are fueled by a desire for responsibility and impact due to witnessing economic and social challenges. The workplace culture is shifting towards more diversity, social responsibility, and work-life balance to accommodate this generation.
Gen Z values work-life balance, remote work, and flexible leave as top priorities in their careers, seeking freedom, efficiency, and employers that appreciate and value their employees. They prefer empowerment and flexibility in career decisions, lifelong learning opportunities, and environmental consciousness. Gen Z is rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, with many embracing entrepreneurship over traditional careers, driven by a desire for challenges, new experiences, and freedom of choice.
This generation is forecasting a seismic mentality change in the meaning of work, expecting trends like the four-day workweek to become the norm. Moving forward, Gen Z is shaping a new work culture grounded in digital savviness, a desire to create a better world, and a pursuit of happiness above all else. They are taking the initiative to make the world change rather than waiting for it to happen.
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This article was first published on February 27, 2024
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