When it comes to career aspirations, it seems that Gen Z is a bit different from their predecessors.
A new study by Axios and Generation Lab found that, in spite of the rise of social media influencers, young people today are still drawn to traditional careers such as being CEOs, doctors and engineers. In fact, these three professions topped the list of career goals for Gen Z-ers surveyed.
But while their dream career may be traditional, their approach to work is not. Gen Z is known for job-hopping and has been dubbed the “quiet-quitting” generation, with 82 percent of respondents saying that the idea of doing the minimum required to keep their jobs is appealing.
However, this doesn’t mean that they’re not looking for stability. In fact, the study found that Gen Z-ers tend to prefer larger companies, with 58 percent saying they’d choose a big or mid-sized corporation over a startup or a government job.
So why is Gen Z drawn to these traditional careers? It turns out that personal fulfillment and wealth are the top motivators for young people as they advance in their careers. A staggering 49 percent of respondents said that personal fulfillment was their leading motivator, while 25 percent said it was wealth. This is in contrast to previous generations, who were more motivated by social impact and working for a company with values that aligned with their own.
So what does this all mean for Gen Z and the future of work? Matin Mirramezani, COO of Generation Lab, sums it up best: “The most popular careers among young people are those with high-income potential. They see that as the best way to achieve personal fulfillment and happiness. They don’t see their career path as an end in itself, but rather the means to an end.”
