What gen z values in the workplace in 2025 - backed by research
“Gen Z are lazy. Young people don’t know what hard work is. I just can’t keep young staff.”
All comments I’ve heard, and still hear, from employers trying to figure out Gen Z. My response every single time is simple:
What worked to engage your team in 2010 will not work in 2025.
What we need to understand is It’s not your employees’ responsibility to feel motivated. It’s your responsibility to build an environment they want to be part of.
As someone who has spent the last decade leading youth programs and working with thousands of young people across Australia, I’ve seen it firsthand. Gen Z isn’t lazy. We are just not willing to work in outdated systems that don’t support them. Here’s what actually matters to Gen Z in the workplace, backed by research.
1. Purpose Over Paycheck
We’re not just working for money. We’re working for meaning. A 2023 study found that Gen Z actively seeks roles that align with their personal values and allow them to create positive social impact. If your business has no clear purpose or positive outcome, expect Gen Z to disengage.
🔗 Salgado et al., 2023 – Frontiers in Psychology
2. Flexibility and Autonomy
The 9-to-5 life? Nah. Gen Z wants flexible schedules and the ability to manage their own time. According to a 2021 academic paper, work-life balance and autonomy are top priorities for Gen Z. Give us trust and space, and we’ll give you results.
🔗 Al Gharbawi et al., 2021 – International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
3. Opportunities to Lead and Grow
We don’t want to sit around waiting five years to be noticed. We want to learn, grow, and step up. A 2022 literature review highlights that Gen Z values organisations that offer mentorship, skill development, and clear pathways for career progression.
🔗 Barhate & Dirani, 2022 – Human Resource Development Review
4. Authenticity and Inclusivity
If your culture talks diversity but doesn’t live it, we’re out. Mental health, inclusivity, and belonging actually matter to us. In a 2022 global survey, most Gen Z respondents said they wouldn't work for a company that doesn’t actively support DEI or mental health.
🔗 TalentLMS & BambooHR Gen Z Workplace Report, 2022
5. Technology That Works
Outdated tech? Hard pass. We expect the tools we use at work to be as efficient as the ones we use in life. Gen Z thrives with modern digital systems, according to a 2021 study presented at an international engineering education conference.
🔗 Georgieva & Lukanova, 2021 – IEEE EDUCON Conference Proceedings
6. A Voice That Matters
We don’t want to be a checkbox in your diversity stats. We want to contribute, and we want to be heard. A 2022 study found that Gen Z expects their ideas to be considered and respected, even early in their careers.
🔗 Ranasinghe & Athukorala, 2022 – International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Final Thought
Gen Z isn’t entitled. We’re just not willing to play by broken rules. The future of work is collaborative, flexible, purpose-driven, and inclusive. If you want to retain Gen Z talent, stop trying to fix them and start fixing your culture.
Who is Wil?
Wil Massara is the CEO Founder of Youth Leadership Academy Australia. He has worked with over 50,000 young Australians to prove that when young people are empowered, they step up. Wil is also a sought-after generational consultant, partnering with government, organisations and corporate teams to bridge the gap between emerging Gen Z leaders and traditional workplace systems. His work helps organisations understand, engage, and retain the next generation of talent—turning “too hard to manage” into your most valuable team members.