How Gen Z is using social justice as a filter for where to work

The post-pandemic mass workforce shakeup is officially underway. We’ve all read the headlines that 1 in 4 Americans are looking to exit their jobs. Pair this with reports that 4 million workers quit their jobs in April and there’s good reason for business leaders to pause. As leaders dig deeper into these numbers, they will soon find that Gen Z has been particularly hard hit by the past 16+ months.

The latest research from Microsoft shows that the number of Gen Zers looking to hand in their notice in the imminent future is actually spiking as high as 54%. Yes, you read that right, more than half of Gen Zers currently in the workforce are keen to cut and run.

Many reports have cited factors such as digital burnout, lack of engagement, tricky remote onboardings and decreased in-person mentorship as reasons Gen Z workers are struggling to find stability at work. Yet, there is an additional reason Gen Z is seeking out something new and different—and it comes down to values and the tangible steps companies can take to make sure their youngest employees feel connected to the bigger picture.