Are tech jobs losing their appeal to Gen Z?

A recent survey shows that the youngest Gen Z workers are moving away from traditional technology employers in favor of an emerging market sector.

Technology jobs have become somewhat less attractive to the youngest generation of Gen Z workers compared to the past - Illustration image

A survey of over 10,000 people conducted by the National Society of High School Scholars revealed that technology companies ranked low on the list of career aspirations for Gen Z.

According to the survey, when looking at a list of employers, the most important factors for Gen Z are fair treatment of employees (28%), work-life balance (25%), and corporate social responsibility (14%). Besides health benefits, which accounted for the highest percentage at 72%, Gen Z also values ​​their personal time and vacation time (63%).

At the same time, flexible work schedules (61%) are the most highly valued benefits and perks. They also keep an eye on their next career step and look for employers who will invest in them. Among these, career development opportunities (86%) and a clear career progression path (44%) are the most sought-after work experiences.

The survey organization stated that while the sample size was large, it did not represent the entire generation, industry, or employers. For tech companies looking to recruit Gen Z, this perception is key.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted changes in the career preferences and intentions of Gen Z. When asked about important career factors, 32% of survey participants cited "healthcare and health-related issues" as the top priority.

Regarding the overall impact of artificial intelligence (AI), only 41% believe AI will have a more positive impact on society in the next decade. This is explained by the possibility that negative perceptions surrounding AI have made Gen Z less interested in technology-related careers.

Opportunities in the healthcare sector remain strong. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital employment has decreased significantly, creating potential opportunities for healthcare professionals.

The World Health Organization estimates a global shortage of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030. According to the American Hospital Association, hospital jobs have fallen by nearly 94,000 since February 2020, and by more than 8,000 between August and September 2021.

While it could be argued that the pandemic was the primary factor behind these numbers, the decline and attrition can be attributed to lower job satisfaction, burnout, and other factors that may surprise Gen Z candidates in the healthcare sector. Nevertheless, the healthcare market remains attractive to young people.

This report also shows that Gen Z prefers working for large corporations rather than small or family businesses. However, interest in medical and healthcare careers remains high, with them placing their trust in hospitals and healthcare organizations as their most desirable employers.

In that context, St. Jude's Children's Hospital topped the list, The Mayo Clinic came in second, and working for a local hospital ranked next in the survey. Google was in seventh place, down from first place in 2017. Amazon dropped to eighth, followed by Apple and the Walt Disney Company in the top 10.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viec-lam-cong-nghe-het-hap-dan-gen-z-20250206101456676.htm