The most recent survey has uncovered an interesting trend among the younger members of Gen Z, who are now turning away from traditional careers in technology and setting their sights on a different industry. With an impressive 90 million members, Gen Z is the largest generation, making this shift in career aspirations quite significant for potential employers. This shift has prompted questions about why this generation is rethinking their career choices and which industries are now catching their eye.
According to the survey conducted by the National Society of High School Scholars, it is evident that Gen Z values a specific set of principles when considering their future employers. The top factors for Gen Z include fair treatment of employees, work-life balance, and corporate social responsibility. Additionally, health benefits, personal time off, and flexible work schedules are highly valued. Furthermore, they prioritize professional development opportunities and a clear pathway for career advancement. Although these values may or may not be present in the technology sector, they are undeniably crucial for Gen Z when making career decisions.
It is worth noting that the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have influenced this change in career preferences. The survey respondents highlighted “health care and health-related issues” as their top concerns, possibly as a direct result of the pandemic’s impact. Additionally, there seems to be a negative sentiment towards the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among Gen Z, with only 41% believing that AI will have a more positive than negative impact on society in the next decade.
Interestingly, the report also indicates that Gen Z prefers working for large corporations over small or family-owned businesses. However, their interest in medical professions and health care remains high. Instead of aiming for renowned tech giants like Meta, Netflix, or Google, Gen Z now looks towards hospitals and health care organizations as their most desired employers. St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, and local hospitals top the list of preferred employers, with tech companies like Google and Amazon falling back in the rankings.
The healthcare industry continues to show strong potential for career growth, particularly as the demand for healthcare workers is expected to increase significantly. The World Health Organization has estimated a shortage of 10 million healthcare workers worldwide by 2030. Despite the decline in hospital employment brought about by the pandemic, there remains a compelling market for health services and workers in the healthcare sector.
In conclusion, the shift in career preferences among Gen Z towards health care and away from traditional tech careers is striking. The values and priorities of this generation have clearly influenced their career decisions, with health care emerging as a promising and appealing industry for the future workforce.
Sources:
National Society of High School Scholars
World Health Organization
American Hospital Association