Is Gen Z the solution to Australia’s labour shortage?

As Australia’s largest generation, comprising of 20 per cent of the population, Gen Z are a seemingly underutilised cohort.

Recent research by WorkJam, revealed that nearly one in three Gen Z employees work fewer than 10 hours per week, but 46 per cent would be willing to travel over 20 kilometres for additional shifts.

Andrew Myers, Managing Director at WorkJam APAC, said we should be leaning into the skills of Gen Z to fill frontline shifts amid a national labour shortage crisis.

“The data also signals the changing work preferences of the generation. We’re seeing the impacts of technology and the gig economy as Uber and Fiverr among others infiltrate traditional frontline employment settings. With this, employers should be mindful that Gen Z will turn to these services as it offers greater flexibility and autonomy on how they work.”

Gen Z employees rank flexibility as the most important consideration when applying for a new role at 69 per cent. Higher than the opportunity for career progression at 57 per cent and proximity to their homes at 49 per cent.

A majority of respondents, 31 per cent, said they are most interested in working in a retail setting, followed by 29 per cent who said they were open to opportunities across all industries.

Looking at the top three reasons why Gen Z employees left their previous roles, 61 per cent stated poor management, 43 per cent said lack of communication, and equal on 37 per cent was not enough hours and lack of recognition.

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