SURVEY REVEALS WORKFORCE EXPECTATIONS OF GEN Z STUDENTS

Chris Chaney Chris Chaney on July 25, 2024

Gen Z (born after 1997) is the future of the workforce, with the oldest members already joining the office ranks. A survey conducted by the National Society of High School Scholars polled more than 10,000 Gen Z members to discern their expectations for the workforce. Here are some highlights:

  • More youth (59%) believe that AI will have a more negative than positive effect on society in the next ten years.
  • Nearly half (48%) of next-generation workers say the most important quality in an employer is clear communications skills.
  • More than 90% expect to participate in an internship and almost three quarters (70%) were interested in certification courses to prepare for what lies ahead.
  • Health benefits trump time-off and flexible work schedule as their most valued compensation benefits, with 72% saying health benefits, 25% work-life balance, and 61% saying flexible work schedule.
  • Fair treatment of all employees continues to rank #1 of all workplace preferences (28% rank it first), followed by work life balance (25%), and corporate social responsibility (14%).