Exploring Gen Z’s motivations and challenges when considering their future work and careers

Ugiagbe-Green, Iwi and Southall, William (2020) Exploring Gen Z’s motivations and challenges when considering their future work and careers. Research Report. University of Leeds.

Preview

Published Version Available under License In Copyright. Download (911kB) | Preview

Abstract

Vondracek, Lerner & Schlenberg (1986), explain that it is useful to analyse demonstrable generational differences through lifespan development perspective. As such, it is this approach that we have adopted for this study. We have explored the lifespan development perspective Gen Z’s individuals’ through an analysis of personal & contextual environments and situations to determine Gen Z’s motivations and the challenges that they face when considering future work and careers. To determine the lifespan development perspective of Gen Z, we adopted a two stage approach; 1) Desktop research (journals, reports, blogs) to understand the motivations/challenges facing Gen Z, when making decisions about their future work and careers. 2) Primary research in which we conducted 4 focus groups with 19 Gen Z schooleavers and graduates to get a gain further, deeper understanding of their personal and contextual environments to better understand how their motivations are shaped and what those motivations are.