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RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Fewer young people interested in leadership roles, new survey finds
A global survey shows fewer younger workers have their eyes on the corner office. Photo: 123RF An international consulting firm's latest global survey shows fewer younger workers have their eyes on the corner office. Gen Z and Millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce by 2030, but only six percent of the 23,000 surveyed by Deloitte were motivated by reaching senior leadership positions. Deloitte partner Lauren Foster told fellow Gen X-er, Nine to Noon's Kathryn Ryan, the six percent figure was the key takeaway from the firm's 14th survey - and believed two key elements were at play. Reflecting on her 20s and early 30s, she said "getting the corner office probably wasn't top of mind", and so, "age and stage" was likely to be a factor in the result. But she also suspected current leaders didn't make the top role look that appealing. "When you ask any senior executive how things are going, they're going to tell you they're busy - that's the number one thing. Maybe they look stressed or feel stressed," Foster said. "I think when this generation... [who are] constantly on their devices, and getting all this information, look up at leadership... [it might] not feel super compelling for them." Foster said it was clear the younger workforce wanted to be invested in, but there was a gap between the expectation and reality of on-the-job training and mentoring from leaders - with many of those in management positions Millennials themselves. She said the report also showed that younger workers prioritised setting boundaries, getting more feedback and coaching - things that didn't have to cost a huge amount of money. "Having good conversations with your people, diving into those coaching and mentoring conversations, you don't need to run an expensive programme. To do that, you just need to invest the time." Business New Zealand chief executive Katherine Rich was surprised by the result and said she thought more young people would want to lead. She said younger workers were likely focussed on fulfilling their current role and not necessarily imagining themselves as a chief executive. "But over time this demographic group is going to have to get used to leadership, because it's not that long before Gen X is going to hand over the keys," Rich said. "We are going to have to have a catchment of leaders who are feeling confident and capable." She believed a 'flattening' of hierarchy in some workplaces would encourage the leadership muscle in younger workers. The survey also showed both Gen Z and Millennials had high expectations for their employers, wanted career progression and would job hop to get it. It also showed most prioritised work-life balance. Rich said discussions about work-life balance were positive, but warned it would always be a juggle. "Sometimes I wonder for many if it really is a holy grail, because if you're going to be an elite performer - in anything you do - within business, within life there is always that aspect of working hard, and consistency." Meanwhile, Foster, who has been at Deloitte for 15 years, said she often wondered how many of the firm's graduate intake would still be there in a decade's time. She said the generations were much more mobile and confident they could secure work elsewhere - especially New Zealanders embarking on an OE. Rich said one of the things that stood out for her in the report, was that younger workers were thinking more deeply about purpose, workplace values, and what a job could do to them - and employers needed to pay attention. She said Gen Z-ers were coming through with a confidence she didn't recognise and employers would have to work hard to hold onto them. "There is an investment in the younger generation, and you are going to lose some, so, I think we have to get used to that. "But, I think what this report reminds us is that if there is authentic leadership, where you are engaging with these younger generations. "I think some of us as Gen X leaders can be confident that if we bring out authentic selves we have a lot to teach them - they want to learn, they want to be mentored." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Younger workers don't want leadership roles: survey
Photo: A new global survey of younger workers show few want to reach leadership positions and most prioritise work-life balance. The international consulting firm Deloitte has surveyed 23,000 Gen Z and Millennials, born between 1983 and 2006 , across 44 countries. This generation will make up three quarters of the workforce by 2030. The survey found that only 6% of Gen Zs are motivated by reaching senior leadership positions. Both groups have high expectations for their employers, want career progression and will job hop to get it - as well as work-life balance. So what are the implications for employers, business and the economy ? Kathryn speaks with Deloitte Partner Lauren Foster, and Business New Zealand Chief Executive Katherine Rich.
Techday NZ
15-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Gen Z & millennials seek balance, security & AI skills at work
Deloitte's 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey has found that younger generations in New Zealand and globally are experiencing shifts in workplace priorities, technology use, and attitudes towards financial security and career development. The survey, which gathered responses from more than 23,000 individuals across 44 countries, shows that Gen Z and millennials are increasingly seeking a balance of financial reward, personal fulfilment, and well-being in their professional lives. According to the study, these groups are expected to make up 74% of the global workforce by 2030. Lauren Foster, Partner at Deloitte New Zealand, said: "Instead of chasing corner offices, Gen Z and millennial workforces are looking for careers that pay fairly, align with their values and support their well-being. This shift presents a challenge for employers to rethink what leadership pathways look like and how they can support purpose-driven growth at work." Findings from the New Zealand snapshot of the survey indicate that financial security remains a significant concern. Sixty-four percent of Gen Zs and 56% of millennials in New Zealand report living paycheck-to-paycheck. About half—47% of Gen Zs and 53% of millennials—said they worry they will not be able to retire with financial comfort. In terms of work-related stress, 47% of Gen Zs and 45% of millennials in New Zealand said they feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time, with almost a third (31% Gen Zs and 29% millennials) identifying their jobs as a contributing factor to these feelings. Foster said: "Continued financial pressures and workplace stress are taking a toll on Gen Z and millennial workers. Many are feeling stretched, both economically and emotionally, but they're also driving a shift in what they expect from employers. They're looking for workplaces that actively support wellbeing, offer flexibility, and create a culture where people can thrive – not just survive." The report highlights the growing role of Generative AI (GenAI) at work. Usage is on the rise globally, with 74% of Gen Zs and 77% of millennials expecting GenAI to impact their work in the next year. In New Zealand, 36% of Gen Zs and 48% of millennials are already using GenAI in their everyday roles. Respondents using GenAI report perceived improvements in work quality and work/life balance. Despite these positives, more than six in ten express concern that GenAI could eliminate jobs, and many are seeking roles they see as safe from technology-driven disruption. The survey indicates a strong demand for ongoing training, with many respondents prioritising the development of both technical and soft skills. Globally, over 80% of Gen Z and millennial respondents believe that soft skills such as empathy and leadership are more important for career advancement than technical skills alone. Foster said: "Gen Zs and millennials are adopting generative AI tools at work and acknowledge the benefits of doing so. However, there's an undercurrent of concern too. They are enjoying the potential of these tools but wary of what they could mean for their own job security and the human side of work." The survey also explores changing attitudes towards education and leadership aspirations. Only 6% of Gen Zs globally cited reaching a senior leadership position as a primary career goal, though opportunities for learning and development remain among the top reasons for choosing an employer. In New Zealand, the expectation gap between what young workers want from managers and what they experience remains significant. While 57% of New Zealand Gen Zs and 62% of millennials want their managers to mentor them, only 44% of Gen Zs and 38% of millennials say this actually happens. Attitudes towards higher education are also evolving. Thirty percent of Gen Zs and 37% of millennials in New Zealand chose not to pursue higher education, compared to 31% of Gen Zs and 32% of millennials globally. The cost of tuition was the main concern for New Zealand respondents, with Foster noting: "More young people are questioning the value of traditional higher education, especially as the cost of living rises. The New Zealand snapshot shows the cost of tuition is the main concern for Gen Zs and millennials when it comes to the higher education system – and more so than what was seen globally. Fifty-seven percent of Gen Zs and 49% of millennials in New Zealand were concerned about the cost of tuition compared to 40% of Gen Zs and 38% of millennials globally." Purpose in work was identified as highly significant, with roughly nine in ten Gen Zs and millennials globally stating that a sense of purpose is important to their job satisfaction and well-being. While some define purpose as making a positive social impact, others focus on earning money, maintaining work/life balance, or acquiring new skills that enable contributions outside of work. The survey was based on online responses from 510 New Zealanders alongside the global sample, capturing the perspectives of 302 Gen Zs and 208 millennials living and working in New Zealand between October and December 2024.
