Forget job hunting. Gen Z is 'growth hunting'

"When I talk with business leaders about Gen Z, the same frustration often bubbles up: "They won't stay." It's said with a kind of bewildered shrug, as if the younger generation has suddenly rewritten the rules out of thin air. I heard it again last week during a radio segment I did about generational dynamics at work. The host asked why Gen Z feels so comfortable moving on so quickly."

"Here's what I've learned after a decade teaching them, coaching them, and watching them navigate the workplace: Gen Z doesn't think they're doing anything unusual. And frankly, once you look at the data, it's hard to argue with them. A new Youngstown State University study of 1,000 full-time U.S. professionals found that nearly half of Gen Z workers are already planning to leave their jobs-not for higher pay, but for better growth. That is the highest rate of all generations surveyed."

"That's the reality of trying to build a career while carrying historic student debt and paying rent that climbs faster than wages. Forty-three percent say they're too burnt out to take on education outside of work. That's not an excuse. That's a sign that the modern workload has pushed people to their limit long before you ever ask them to add night classes."

Nearly half of Gen Z workers plan to leave their jobs seeking better growth rather than higher pay, representing the highest exit intent among generations. Many leaders assume impatience or disloyalty, but data show systemic causes instead. Eighty-six percent of Gen Z say they will not pursue upskilling unless their employer helps pay for it, reflecting financial constraints like student debt and rising rent. Forty-three percent report being too burnt out to pursue education outside work, indicating workloads and limited support block career development. Employers’ assumptions miss the structural drivers behind early-career mobility.

Read at Fast Company