The CEMS Gen - Z Workforce: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

THE CEMS

GEN Z

WORKFORCE: TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

w w w. c em s . o r g

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05

CEMS Gen Z Career Expectations

CHAPTER

03

08

Trendsetters unveiled

CHAPTER

13

Engaging with Generation Z at CEMS

The CEMS Global Alliance

CEMS is a Global Alliance of leading business schools, multinational companies and NGOs that together offer the CEMS Master in International Management.

Get ready for the rise of Gen Z, soon to be the largest generational cohort of CEMS! Learn more about their career dynamics, glimpse into the future through their perspective, and, most crucially, uncover effective ways to connect with them.

33

Leading Business schools

20,000 Alumni

1300+

High-calibre, multi-lingual students

70+

International companies and NGOs

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This guide is based on a survey conducted in January, featuring responses from over 400 CEMS students.

03

The generational profiles Generation

Date of Birth

Age

% in CEMS

# in CEMS

Silent Generation

Born before

Ages

0%

1

1946

77+

Boomers

Born between

Ages

0%

30

1946 and 1964

59 to 77

Born between

Ages

17%

4000

1965 and 1980

43 to 58

Millenials

Born between

Ages

57%

13,000+

1981 and 1996

27 to 42

Gen Z

Born between

Ages

25%

6000+

1996 and 2007

16 to 26

Gen X

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CEMS Gen Z Career Expectations

CHAPTER

01

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Navigating the Future with Minimal Projections

The ideal job duration Around 60% of the surveyed individuals from Generation Z believe that 3 to 5 years is an ideal duration for staying in one job.

Loyalty takes a backseat for Generation Z; they prioritize change and purpose over steadfast commitment.

6%

2% 5 years 1 or more year

3-5 years

2 years

33%

59%

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06

Salary remains top criteria What are the top three criteria that would most influence your decision to take on a new role (either within your current company or a different one)?

Beyond gender Looking closer at these criteria, the CEMS study found that both men and women identified similar aspects that would influence their decision to take on a new role. Nonetheless, the ranking of these criteria differs between genders, with women putting more emphasis on work/life balance and internationalization than men.

01

Salary including bonuses

Women-top four criteria

02

N.

Good work life balance

Salary (including bonuses)

1

03

Opportunity for global travel / international career

Good work/life balance

2

04

Opportunities for quick career progression

Opportunity for global travel/ international career

3

Opportunity for quick career progression

4

Did you know?

The concept of "bleisure" (business + leisure) travel is a rising trend among Gen Z professionals. Individuals often extend their business trips to include personal travel and exploration. This trend reflects Gen Z's desire to blend work and personal life in a

Men-top four criteria

N.

Salary (including bonuses)

1

Opportunity for quick career progression

2

Good work/life balance

3

Opportunity for global travel/ international career

4

way that enhances overall well-being and experiences.

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Trendsetters unveiled

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The most connected generation

The Impact of social media on Gen Z A majority of Gen Z think that social media has mostly a positive impact in their lives. They feel comfortable with technology, understand its dual outcomes and well accustomed to the idea of combining physical and virtual lives.

How does social media affect your life? (1 being very negatively, 10 being very positively) 80

76

73

Number of students

70

60

53 50

46

40

30

27

26

20

14

9

10

0

2

3

0

1

2 2

3

4

5

6

Negative

7

8

9

10

Positive

Instagram

Linkedin

Tiktok

Instagram remains the top

Linkedin ranks 2nd for CEMS

Without surprise, Tiktok ranks

social media platform for CEMS

Gen Z, gathering 28% of the

3rd, coinciding the exponential

Gen Z, with over 50% of votes.

votes.

rise in Tiktok usage worldwide.

Did you know?

Gen Z spends on average 4 hour per day on their mobile (against 2 hours for other generations). This increase has had profound impacts on media consumption, with the Gen Z favoring social media rather than television.

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01

Embracing AI as the next frontier

The increasing integration of AI in daily life Over 57% of surveyed participants feel confident with the increasing integration of AI. Only 2% perceive AI as a threat.

How do you feel with the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in various aspects of daily life?

44%

13%

Comfortable

Unsettling

13% Very confident

2%

28 %

Scary

Neutral

The AI divide: gender disparities among users The CEMS study reveals that women feel less confident about the rise of AI compared to men, with 46% of women feeling secure, in contrast to men who lead at 67%.

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Women’s perception on AI

Men’s perception on AI

Very confident 6.5%

Very confident 19.5%

Comfortable 40%

Comfortable 48%

Neutral 35.5%

Neutral 21%

Unsettling 16%

Unsettling 9.5%

Scary 2%

Scary 2%

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The future is bright

Feelings about the future 70% of Gen Z are optimistic about the future. Despite the world facing many challenges, this generation remains optimistic. Their confidence in their ability to make a meaningful impact on the world shows a resilient and forward-looking mindset.

How optimistic are you about the future?

Very optimistic

Somehow optimistic

Neutral

Somehow pessimistic

Very pessimistic 0

50

100

150

200

The future through gendered lenses It emerges that women express a slightly less optimistic stance on the future in contrast to men who exhibit a leading level of optimism, notably at 29% expressing a very optimistic outlook.

Women’s perception on the future

Men’s perception on the future

Very optimistic 16%

Very optimistic 29%

Somehow optimistic 51%

Somehow optimistic 44%

Neutral 18%

Neutral 11%

Somehow pessimistic 12%

Somehow pessimistic 14%

Very pessimistic 3%

Very pessimistic 2%

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Turning challenges into opportunities

Gen Z respondents identified several key challenges and opportunities for their generation, with 4-5 themes consistently standing out.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for your generation?

1

Climate change and crisis

2

Global economic situation

3

Increased number of geopolitical crises

4

Social issues (inequality, intolerance, poverty…)

5

Increased use of AI in all aspects of life

What do you see as the biggest opportunities for your generation?

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1

New technologies and innovation

2

Globalisation and internationalism

3

Young people as a driving force for change

4

Education

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Portrait of the CEMS Gen Z

Agile Gen Z adapts easily into changing environments and embraces innovation.

Digital native: Gen Z were born into a world of technological innovation where information is always accessible and social media omnipresent.

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Summary of the CEMS Gen Z as a workforce:

Mobile Gen Z is known for their

mobility and frequent job changes. This generation is also more likely drawn to the appeal of freelance status.

Financial stability Gen Z, like previous generations, prioritizes financial considerations when seeking employment.

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Positioning your company as the employer of choice for Generation Z

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Engaging with Generation Z Corporate Partners of the CEMS Global Alliance can actively benefit from engaging with top business schools and gain exclusive access to insights and talent from Generation Z cohorts.

Recruiting Gen Z Grow your teams with skilled business school students Hire from a pool of 1300+ Gen Z students of more than 70 countries Post career opportunities on our job portal Gain exclusive access to our career and networking events

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01

Promote your company to the Gen Z Increase marketing reach to an audience from around the globe

Increase the reach of your digital marketing campaigns Build brand credibility and leverage our social media platforms to directly access the new generations of CEMSies

Get consultancy services from a team of Next Generation Thinkers Collaborate with 33 top business schools Initiate a market research and let our CEMS Gen Z present a business case Study with a detailed analysis and well-thought-out solutions to your most pressing challenges.

Find out more about business projects.

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Interact with the new generation Showcase your company during a skill seminar Seize a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of student talent Get a chance to share knowledge with a truly international group of students Raise your company visibility within the CEMS network.

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Did you know?

55% of the surveyed CEMS Gen Z members indicated critical thinking and problem-solving as the most important soft trait for their career. It is followed by leadership and social influence. CEMS Corporate Partners can actively use those soft skills in the classroom to support their corporate projects.

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Want to learn more about the CEMS Corporate Partnership?

Read more on

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