May 18, 2022 - Economy & Business

Gen Z workers crave career stability

Data: WakeField via iCIMS Class of COVID-19 report; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios

Younger workers, in the aftermath of the pandemic, are craving a more traditional work experience with employers who accept them for who they are.

Why it matters: Companies across industries are trying to figure out the right way to meet employees' new needs — such as hybrid work requirements and benefits — amid a labor market that still favors workers.

State of play: Among recent grads, mental health support is the top career expectation, according to a new survey of 1,000 young adults from iCIMS, a talent acquisition software provider.

  • 91% of those surveyed (class of 2020, 2021 or 2021 undergrads) said they care how long they stay with an employer.
  • Nearly 70% say they actually see themselves staying long term. 

The big picture: The upheaval that graduating college students have lived through over the past three years has changed their perspective on what they want and need. 

  • “Stability is key for them,” Rhea Moss, director of data insights and customer intelligence at iCIMS, tells Axios.

What to watch: Younger workers are diligent about researching the companies they work for as well as their potential managers, according to the study.

  • "[This generation] is being very particular about the company they'd want to work for where they feel that they can bring their whole, true self to work," says Moss.
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