Generation Z has long carried the reputation of being the most restless workforce in modern history, quick to quit and slow to commit. But a closer look at the data tells a more nuanced story, one where young workers are making calculated decisions rather than impulsive ones. The labor market has shifted dramatically in recent years, and the relationship between employees and employers no longer works the way it once did. Long-term loyalty to a single company simply does not carry the same benefits it once did for workers entering the workforce today.
A national survey of more than 1,000 respondents, split between Gen Z employees and hiring managers, found that young workers stay at a job for an average of about 1.8 years before moving on, as reported by YourTango. That number might surprise people who assume Gen Z is constantly job-hopping on a whim, but it actually reflects a deliberate mindset. Interestingly, Gen Z workers themselves expect to stay roughly the same amount of time at a new position before they even start, suggesting they enter jobs with realistic and planned timelines. This challenges the narrative that Gen Z employees are unpredictable or uncommitted in the workplace.
The survey, conducted by Gateway Commercial Finance, found that nearly half of Gen Z respondents (47%) plan to leave their current job within the next year, while a full half said they are prepared to walk away at any given moment. At the same time, fewer than half of those surveyed (46%) believe that loyalty to a single employer is actually rewarded in today’s economy. The most commonly cited reason for wanting to leave is straightforward: finding a position that pays better. Workers in this generation also frequently mention feeling overworked, underpaid, or simply not valued enough as key drivers behind their decisions to move on.
Economic pressures are playing a significant role in how Gen Z navigates the job market. According to the same survey, 39% of Gen Z workers said that inflation and financial uncertainty have made them more inclined to switch jobs, while 30% said those same pressures have actually encouraged them to stay put. Only one in four respondents said they could picture themselves at their current job over the long haul. A 2024 study from financial services company Empower further highlighted how different Gen Z’s financial expectations are compared to earlier generations, particularly when it comes to what “success” looks like in dollar terms.
While baby boomers tended to associate financial success with earning under $100,000 a year, Gen Z workers believe that real success in today’s economy requires an annual salary exceeding $580,000. That gap reflects not just generational ambition but also the dramatically different cost of living that younger workers face compared to their parents or grandparents. Recruitment firm Randstad found that 41% of Gen Z workers always factor long-term career goals into their job decisions, a higher rate than any other generation currently in the workforce. Beyond salary, the second most frequently cited reason Gen Z leaves a job is the absence of meaningful opportunities for advancement and growth.
To understand this generation’s workplace behavior, it helps to know a bit about who Gen Z actually is. Generally defined as people born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely in the age of smartphones and social media. They entered adulthood during periods of significant global disruption, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftermath, which shaped their relationship with financial stability and career expectations in ways that differ sharply from millennials or Gen X. Research consistently shows that Gen Z values work-life balance, mental health, and purpose-driven employment more than previous generations, and they are far less likely to view a single employer as a lifelong partner. The rise of the gig economy, remote work, and digital career platforms has also given this generation more tools and confidence to explore their options than any workforce that came before them.
If you have thoughts on Gen Z’s approach to work and job loyalty, feel free to share them in the comments.
