Job portal warns employers to brace for Gen Zs

CEBU, Philippines — Jobstreet, a Southeast Asian online job platform, warned employers to change workplace dynamics with the entry of Gen Z talents into the workforce.

In the Philippines, 65 percent of Gen Zs are already participating in the workforce either taking part-time or full-time jobs. A global study predicts that in less than 10 years, 40 percent of the work will be composed of Gen Z talents.

Employers who recognize and respond to these changes will be well-positioned to harness the potential of Gen Z and thrive in the modern workplace.

The online platform JobStreet by SEEK shared that this shift in demographics will change the dynamics of the workplace culture. Therefore, employers even with established hiring practices are advised to recalibrate, if not enhance their processes.

Gen Z’s goals and aspirations drastically differ from their previous counterparts and their deep regard for societal awareness influences their decision-making when it comes to their careers.

Gen Z is the newest generation, born between 1997 and 2012.

While being seen as “idealists”, they’re extremely dedicated goal-getters making them excellent candidates for any industry.

According to JobStreet’s recent data, with Gen Zs being true digital natives, they value innovation and change more than anything. They usually select their place of work based on the impact that the organization has made on society. Factors like company values and political stances heavily influence their decision-making.

The study revealed that Gen Zs are not afraid of upholding their principles as they are more empowered with access to information and sharing their minds.

Stability, work-life balance, competitive salary, and benefits are also of immense value to Gen Z candidates, as reported by JobStreet.

Research by the World Economic Forum also revealed that 73 percent of Gen Z employees desire permanent flexible work alternatives. With this, companies can take advantage of this by improving their people programs and culture, while keeping in mind the organizational goals, to attract a new wave of empowered and engaged talents. With the circumstance at hand, JobStreet further suggested employers to adapt and be more progressive to address this cultural gap between them and these new-gen talents.

Employers may explore implementing sustainable and impactful advocacy projects that focus on equality, gender acceptance, politics, and the environment—topics that matter most to Gen Zs.

Furthermore, it is advised to have a healthy and flexible working environment if a company wants to attract and retain them.

“The desires of Gen Z talents might seem like high-maintenance demands, but they are absolutely valid. Employers really need to ensure that they are implementing practices that are healthy for their workers to continue attracting and retaining talents,” said Dannah Majarocon, JobStreet Philippines’ Managing Director.

Given the things that Gen Z candidates put a premium on, their preferred industries to work in also differ quite a bit from the preferences of millennials or Gen X-ers.

According to JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey, accounting and government jobs are Gen Z’s top choices in terms of industries they’d like to work in. Male Gen Zs are most inclined to work in the Computer (Hardware), Engineering, IT Consulting, Automotive, IT Outsourcing (BPO), and IT Software industries.

Meanwhile, female Gen Zs prefer to look into Travel/Tourism, Healthcare/Medical, Accounting, Hospitality, and Government-related jobs.

Keeping up with the dynamic world of work will help companies remain relevant and adaptable to any further developments. Adjustments may be complicated, but both employers and job seekers can strike a balance between employee needs and organizational goals.

“The career market is transforming, hence, we are constantly in support of employers to help them level up their hiring practices. Likewise, we equip job seekers to stand out in the increasingly competitive market. This way, we help them meet halfway and establish a mutually beneficial working relationship,” added Majarocon.

JobStreet currently has nearly 50,000 jobs available in the platform with a diverse talent pool of over 14.6 million jobseekers in the country. Enriched with industry insights and AI-powered recruitment tools.

JobStreet is a subsidiary of SEEK, a diverse group of companies comprised of a strong portfolio of online employment, and educational, commercial, and volunteer businesses. SEEK is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and has a strong presence across the APAC region, including six Asian markets – Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand – through the JobStreet and JobsDB brands. SEEK attracts over 500 million visits a year in Asia.