Understanding the High Turnover Rate of Gen Z Employees in the Modern Job Market: The Impact of Short-Term Roles and Emphasis on Continuous Learning
For decades, the idea of landing a stable job and sticking with it for life was the norm. But for the Generation Z, it’s almost the opposite. These young people prefer constant mobility: jumping from one position to another to learn more, grow faster, and adapt to a market dominated by rapid changes. Instead of seeking a lifelong job, they have turned change into a norm and continuous training into a survival strategy.
A Record of Job Rotation
The numbers speak for themselves. The Generation Z workforce only stays in each job for an average of 1.1 years, compared to 1.8 years for millennials, 2.8 years for Generation X, and nearly three years for boomers. Never before has a generation changed jobs so quickly and naturally.
More than a whim, this acceleration reflects a shift in the way work is perceived: not as a stable destination but as a temporary tool to gain experience.
Salary Is No Longer the Sole Motivation
The myth that job rotation is solely due to better salaries does not align with the data. 68% of young people claim to be engaged in their current job but feel that there is not enough room for growth or alignment of values with the company.
Additionally, 40% prioritize their long-term career goals over job stability, even if it means short-term contracts or some insecurity.
The Pressure of Technology and AI
Adding to this mindset is a new factor: technology and AI. Many young people have seen entry-level jobs disappear or transform. Faced with uncertainty, the reaction has been to adapt quickly. This explains the shift towards less threatened sectors, such as health or even manual trades that require irreplaceable human skills.
The message is clear: those who do not learn, get left behind.
