These are the most important factors Generation Z considers in a job. Surprisingly, technology and social media did not make the list.
Despite the inevitable advances of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain inside the workplace, Generation Z wants human elements at work.
Generation Z will be the first generation in the workplace that has never been offline. The entire generation is younger than Google. But that doesn't mean they will only want high-tech solutions, in fact, that might be what is causing them to crave deeper human connections at work.
The human elements of "supportive leadership" and "positive relationships at work" were Generation Z's top two most important factors to consider in a job. Below are the top ten responses of what Generation Z want at work according to a recent survey of over 4,000 respondents.
Generation Z Won't Take a Job Without These
The first number is the percentage of Generation Z who said they "won't take a job without it" and the second is the percentage who said they would "love to have it."
- Supportive Leadership (23 percent won't take a job without it and 55 percent would "love to have it")
- Positive Relationships at Work (27 percent and 53 percent)
- Scheduling Flexibility (24 percent and 46 percent)
- Comfortable Workspaces (27 percent and 46 percent)
- Chance to Learn Real Skills (24 percent and 56 percent)
- Meaningful Roles and Responsibilities (18 percent and 48 percent)
- Opportunities to be Promoted (23 percent and 51 percent)
- Extra Pay for Going the Extra Mile (23 percent and 55 percent)
- Convenient Location (20 percent and 42 percent)
- Autonomy and Creative Freedom (13 percent and 49 percent)
Of the Generation Z respondents who chose to provide further detail in the form of open-ended responses, 41 percent reiterated the value of the human element at work and "equality and inclusivity" were the second most-represented responses.
Mutual respect, gratitude, mental health, and recognition between coworkers and leadership were all recurring themes throughout the data.
It's clear, Generation Z wants high-touch in a high-tech world.
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