How Gen Z is fixing to change the future of work as we know it

According to a new workforce study by management consulting firm Oliver Wyman, Gen Zers in the US and UK aren’t afraid of job hopping, and have distinct views on traditional notions of work.

The study analyzed how Generation Z, the most disruptive generation ever, will affect long-established business practices. After surveying 10,000 Gen Zers aged 18 to 25 in the US and UK, the research found that if they’re unhappy with their job in general, they’re happy to ditch it, even without a backup plan.

Because they have lost much of their youth to COVID-19, they find a sustainable work-life balance significant, and won’t sacrifice leisure time to climb up the corporate ladder. They prioritize things like flexibility, health care coverage, mental support, and institutional transparency.

They’re the most nonconformist generation—they reject traditional gender stereotypes and roles, aren’t big on labels, and have non-binary ideas of gender. According to the study, their worldview stems from a place of disenchanted realism, with experiences from spasms of social unrest and the ravages of the Great Recession to COVID-19. They’re realistic about the future, having seen the failures of government, business, and religious institutions. 

The survey also found that 85% of Gen Zers prefer remote work or a hybrid, at the very least. This could be partly due to the fact that many of them started working during the pandemic.

The study’s subjects are basically saying goodbye to the “hustle culture”, which they strongly believe is toxic. They want their bosses to understand them, brands to celebrate differences, and support them in their fight against gender norms, discrimination, and beauty standards. In time, this might be the generation that will redefine the workplace, politics, and ultimately, the future.