While the youngest Gen Zers work their way through middle school, older members graduate college and find their first jobs—or, they don’t find jobs at all, as Gen Zs are often laid off and struggling to make ends meet. keep a job.

Conformable data reported by Intelligent.com60% of employers have fired Gen Z employees in the past year. Generation Z is often criticized as a generation lacking in motivation. However, what is perceived as a lack of ambition could actually be a measure of self-protection.

Gen Zers are hesitant to commit to a corporate system that offers them very little security. The underlying reasons Gen Z get fired and struggle to keep a job have less to do with their work ethic and more to do with their mindset towards corporate culture.

Here are 8 reasons why Gen Z are often fired and struggle to keep a job

1. Economic uncertainty

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Generation Z came of age in an era of economic and political uncertainty. That The Pew Research Center reportedGen Z had to make their way into a strong economy with record low unemployment rates, and then the whole world changed. The onset of a global pandemic has completely transformed the social, political and economic landscape, and Generation Z has become a generation on the precipice of major uncertainty.

Generation Z has been hit hard by the economic instability caused by the pandemic. A 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center found that half of older members of Gen Z, who were between the ages of 18 and 23, reported that they or someone in their household had lost a job or had their pay cut due to Covid -19.

Four years later, Gen Z is still feeling the effects of that acute economic instability. The job market has changed rapidly, and Gen Z is doing its best to keep up. Promises of job security don’t hold true in the way they did for past generations, particularly boomers, many of whom rejected their retirementleaving little room for younger generations to climb the corporate ladder.

while boomers complain that Gen Z doesn’t want to workthe economic reality they inherited put them at a serious disadvantage, which is why Gen Zs are often fired and struggling to keep a job.

RELATED: 10 things baby boomers did as kids that would make Gen Z cry

2. High expectations for flexibility in the workplace

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Unlike the millennials before them, who glorified hustle culture only to be faced with deep regret and a desire to climb back down the corporate ladder, Gen Z places a huge emphasis on workplace flexibility. They want real work-life balance, not empty promises. They seek true balanceand they are not willing to settle for less than they deserve.

In addition to their expectations for flexible hours and remote working conditions, they are looking to create lives that do not place work directly at the center. They don’t base their identity or self-esteem around jobs, which is a healthy mindset. More than previous generations, Gen Zers prioritize finding personal fulfillment outside of work.

That Morgan Sanner, a Gen-Z career expert, explained“The job search shouldn’t also be a search for purpose. When you’re looking for a job, you shouldn’t also be trying to find your identity.” Their quest for flexibility often means Gen Zers struggle to hold down a job, but that’s not a reflection of their work ethic. Rather, it shows that young people’s priorities are also changing it is up to companies to adapt accordingly.

3. Seeking a more dynamic environment than what is offered

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Another reason Gen Z is fired and struggling to keep a job is that they are looking for a more dynamic work environment than what they are being offered. In addition to their desire to work remotely, Gen Z wants to be challenged in a way that most jobs can’t or won’t provide.

A 2022 study from Current Psychology reviewed the differences in values ​​and attitudes between Gen X and Gen Z and found that Gen X displayed higher levels of resilience and Gen Z had higher levels of openness to experience and the pursuit of self-improvement. The study also found that Gen Z placed a high value on novelty and change, as opposed to maintaining the status quo.

These qualities don’t necessarily mesh well with conventional corporate culture, meaning Gen Z has a hard time finding a job that matches what they want. The world of work hasn’t caught up with Generation Z, that is why they are often fired and struggle to keep a job.

4. Wanting jobs that align with their values

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Gen Z wants work that aligns with their values, which means they don’t hesitate to leave unfulfilling jobs. Conformable Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey86% of Gen Zers say having a sense of purpose is important to their well-being and job satisfaction. The study noted that Gen Z are “increasingly willing” to reject employers whose values ​​don’t match their own perspective.

In addition, 75% of Gen Z reported that they consider a company’s societal impact and level of community involvement when looking for work. Environmental concerns are high on the list of what Gen Z considers when looking for a job. Meanwhile, 62 percent of Gen Z said they felt anxious and worried about climate change in the month the survey was conducted. Two in 10 Gen Zers have changed jobs or industries to find a job that aligns with their environmental values.

It may seem like Gen Z are often fired or struggling to keep a job because they don’t care about their work, but in reality they care deeply, they just want their occupations to match their political priorities and social.

RELATED: 3 Reasons Gen Z Employees Reject Corporate Jargon

5. Struggle with traditional hierarchies

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Gen Zers are often fired and struggle to keep a job because they find it hard to fit into jobs that have traditional hierarchies. They tend to feel frustrated with the way companies operate. Gen Z don’t tie their personal identities to their workplaces, which means they typically don’t hang out with older colleagues who want access to status symbols at work.

Part of the desire for flexibility in the workplace translates into a desire to move away from rigid decision-making processes and formal displays of professionalism to a more casual atmosphere. This incompatibility in how Gen Z approaches work compared to older generations manifests itself in different ways; for example, Gen Z has no problem being 10 minutes late to workwhile boomers actually do.

Gen Z’s attitude to work breaks the traditional mold. While implementing change is not always a smooth process, it is necessary.

6. Prioritizing mental health over work

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Gen Z’s mental health struggles have been well documented. That Benchmarking 2022 reportedGeneration Z showed higher rates of depression and anxiety than other generations even before the pandemic began. Their need for emotional support goes beyond what jobs generally provide.

Generation Z prioritizes their mental health more than any other generation, which is why they often leave stressful or toxic jobs. Their focus on mental health means they will leave a job that doesn’t offer them adequate support.

While many companies may offer a say in taking care of the mental health needs of their employees, when it comes down to it, they still put profits before people. Gen Z are often fired and struggle to keep a job because they know their mental health is more important than anything else.

7. Having a cultural perspective that conflicts with outdated workplace norms

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Gen Z’s worldview and cultural perspective often exist in conflict with outdated workplace politics. As the Pew Research Center noted in its 2020 article “On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future,” Gen Z is at the “leading edge” of America’s changing racial and ethnic makeup: 52 percent of Gen Z are non-Hispanic white, and one in four are Hispanic; 14% of Gen Z are black, 6% are Asian, and 5% are of another race or two or more races.

As of 2020, Gen Z were more likely to be enrolled in college and have a college-educated parent than Gen X or millennials were at the same point in their lives. Having a high level of education leads to a more open mind, which is definitely what Gen Z is.

Gen Z places immense value on progressive values ​​and policies that are truly inclusive. They won’t stay in workplaces that don’t center equity and diversitywhich is why they are often let go from jobs or leave of their own accord.

8. Low tolerance for unfair treatment

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Along with their belief in true inclusion, diversity and equity, Gen Z have a low threshold for being treated unfairly, which is why they are often fired and struggle to keep a job. They know their worth. They know there is no benefit in staying with a company that does not value them.

While past generations may have kept quiet, Gen Z is more likely to raise your voice and demand respect. Whether it’s fighting discrimination or unfair pay and work policies, Gen Z won’t stay where they’re not valued, which is why they often struggle to keep a job.

RELATED: 10 old-fashioned Gen X values ​​that people in younger generations seem to have lost

Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango’s news and entertainment team. She covers social issues, pop culture analysis, and all things related to the entertainment industry.