GenZ (born 1997-2007) in India is rewriting workplace rules by prioritising pay, flexibility, and purpose over traditional long-term jobs, according to Randstad India’s latest report, ‘The GenZ Workplace Blueprint’.
The report highlights key trends in work preferences, career mindsets, retention drivers, and attitudes towards AI and learning, and the findings reveal a generation that values financial security but equally demands autonomy, adaptability, and alignment with personal values.
Indian GenZ is redefining their career paths by seeking blended career paths way more compared to their global counterparts, trying to find a balance between stability and entrepreneurial freedom. Low pay (50%), misaligned values, and poor workplace culture are the top reasons for GenZ for quitting within a year. Better pay (37%), flexible hours (25%), and work-life balance (22%) are stronger motivators than extra leave or traditional perks. Some of the other interesting retention drivers include more travel opportunities (18%) and the ability to work remotely abroad (14%).
“GenZ is reshaping the workplace with a rare blend of ambition, confidence, and adaptability. They want to grow fast, learn continuously, and embrace new challenges but they are equally uncompromising about their expectations. For them, compensation and financial stability are a given, but true engagement comes from flexibility, purpose, and opportunities to upskill,” said Viswanath PS, MD and CEO, Randstad India.
While 82% of GenZ are enthusiastic about AI and 83% use it for problem-solving, 44% worry about its long-term impact on their jobs, a higher share than older cohorts. According to the report, 52% of GenZ actively learn through AI tools, complemented by on-the-job training (47%) and peer learning (44%). It also said 81% of GenZ feel fully motivated and engaged in their current role as compared to 92% of millennials and 91% of GenX.
When it comes to dream jobs, 77% of GenZ see their current role as a match, soaring past the global 58%, hinting at cautious optimism amid early career challenges.
Unlike previous generations, GenZ is not about tenure, it is about employers who invest in their growth and respect their need for balance. This shift is not a challenge but an opportunity for organisations to evolve. Employers who embed lifelong learning, inclusive cultures, and flexible policies will not just attract and retain Gen Z talent, they will build resilient, future-ready businesses, Viswanath added.
“The Indian GenZ’s overwhelming preference for a full-time job with a side hustle is a clear signal to the technology industry. They are a generation of digital natives who see technology as an enabler for both professional stability and entrepreneurial freedom. For us in the digital space, this translates to an urgent need to build roles that offer not just cutting-edge technology exposure, but also the flexibility and avenues for continuous AI-led upskilling they demand,” said Milind Shah, managing director, Randstad Digital India.