GenZ: Is she happy with her profession? What does she ask from it and what does it offer?

By Marialenis Tsouvelekidis – Sophia Tastsidis

Occupation may not be an end in itself. It is, however, undeniably a very important part of human life, as it occupies a large part of his daily life. As for the choice of profession, this is primarily related to the cost of living, but it is also influenced by inclinations and interests. How does Gen Z approach career choice and what new features does it bring to the job market?

The skai.gr took to the streets of Athens and asked Gen Z youth if they are happy with their profession. The answers vary. Others think abroad even though they think they have made the right career choice. Some feel lucky that their parents respected their inclination towards music, which is considered an unprofitable field. Still others find no motivation in their profession and have had to study different subjects in search of what they want to do.

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GenZ includes them born between 1997 and 2013 and according to research by the University of California, Berkeley and Holly Schroth, it is more oriented towards achieving great things through the profession. This is a generation that has much greater economic prosperity and educational level compared to the previous ones, however, it has higher rates of depression and anxiety. The 25% of Gen Zers claim they can’t manage their stresswhile 50% state that they manage stress.

According to the survey above, Gen Z grew up in more affluent environments compared to the past. In 1979, 60% of teenagers were working, while in 2015, 34% of teens were working and this is expected to drop to 25% in 2024. This means that when they get their first job they have no previous experience, so they enter in the labor market with idealized expectations. Also, the top requirement that Gen Zers have from their employer is that they have a positive attitude (42%) and set them clear goals (37%), while Millennials cited open communication and feedback (42%), followed by clear goals (38%). They also have a strong sense of social justice with 91% of Gen Z globally believing that all people are equal.

Salary is still a key GenZ job requirement. The financial crisis of 2010, climate change, warfare, as well as technological development are the main conditions under which this generation grew up. Especially the dynamic entry of technology into people’s lives and the way it will affect professions is of particular concern to the young generation. At the same time, rising inflation pushes the cost of living to high levels. In the case of Greece, the General Consumer Price Index, according to ELSTAT, increased by 2.4% in October 2024 compared to October 2023, which had shown an increase of 3.4% compared to the corresponding month of 2022 .

What characteristics does GenZ have in the Greek labor market?

According to a survey by Evalion-SHL, a human resource consulting company, of 2,100 GenZ youth, the strengths of this generation are as follows: they take responsibility for difficult tasks, adapt easily to changes and ensure the delivery of a high-quality result.

Speaking to skai.gr, Mr Orfeas Stavrou, co-author of the study and managing partner of Evalion-SHL Greece & Cyprusstated that “The Greek economic crisis, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, has shaped the ability of Greek graduates to navigate economic instability and rapid change. They have cultivated strong skills of adaptability and resilience, which are crucial to thrive in the midst of dual crises. From layoffs to telecommuting transitions, they have shown resilience in the face of setbacks, acquiring the right skills to cope with volatile environments and the challenges of the post-pandemic era»

In terms of weaknesses, the survey found that Greek Gen Zers have difficulty identifying key factors and integrating information to understand data or situations, and also make an effort to develop good relationships with others. Commenting on the above results, Orfeas Stavrou explained that:

“Maintaining good working relationships and strengthening team cohesion may be weak among Greek graduates due to cultural and educational standards that give more opportunities for individual success than for collaboration. In addition, support and training programs focused on communication, conflict management and teamwork could help address these challenges and enhance graduates’ abilities to create positive working relationships and build cohesive teams».

It is worth noting that by 2025 the young people of the Gen Z generation will constitute the ¼ of the employed in Greece. Their needs from the employer, their positive characteristics and areas for improvement will play an important role in the evolution of the labor market.