6 NOV 2023

The Evolving Career Path: Gen Z Predicts 3x Industry Changes in a Lifetime

A survey by Resource Solutions involving 2,000 working adults highlights a significant shift in career perceptions among Generation Z (Gen Z) workers.

Key findings include:

Industry Change Expectation: Gen Z workers anticipate changing industries at least three times during their careers, which is more frequently than previous generations.
Career Fulfillment vs. Financial Incentives: A considerable portion of Gen Z (73%) is willing to accept lower pay or a demotion in pursuit of a more satisfying career path. In contrast, only 24% of Generation X and 36% of Baby Boomers would consider sacrificing their career advancement for greater job satisfaction.

Job Tenure: A majority of Gen Z employees (64%) plan to leave their current jobs within two years, whereas nearly half of Millennials and Boomers are inclined to remain with their current employer for five years or more. Gen X shows the highest employer loyalty, with 64% wishing to stay with their current employer for over five years.

Average Role Tenure: The consensus among employees is to stay in a role for approximately two years and nine months before looking for a new job, with the tenure expectation being even shorter for younger generations.

Talent Attraction and Retention Recommendations: Kristen Buckheit of Resource Solutions suggests that to attract and retain Gen Z, employers need to offer roles that are challenging and meaningful, utilize individual skillsets, and ensure employee engagement through professional development and training.

She emphasises the importance of adapting to the evolving career expectations of younger professionals, influenced by factors such as delayed retirement, rapid technological advances, and a deep understanding of global change due to the internet.

The survey underscores the necessity for companies to revise their talent strategies to accommodate the dynamic career trajectories and expectations of Gen Z in the workplace.