Health care dominates Gen Z career aspirations, benefits preferences
Health benefits were the most important compensation benefit for Gen Z.
Gen Z workers – those born after 1997 – are developing some distinct ideas about where they want to work and what they want from their employers.
High on the list is compensation, according to a survey of more than 10,000 Gen Z students conducted by the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). Sixty-three percent of Gen Z respondents said they are concerned about pursuing careers they are passionate about because they won’t earn a sufficient income. This is largely tied to expectations about having student debt, the report found.
Health care and medicine is a top career choice for this generation, with many pointing to dream jobs working at such employers as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Mayo Clinic and Healthcare Service Corps. Engineering is also a top field of interest, and many expressed an interest in working at well-known tech companies including Google, Amazon and Apple.
Health benefits were the most important compensation benefit for this age group, with 72% valuing health benefits most highly ahead of flexible work schedules (61%) and work-life balance (25%).
Fair treatment of all employees continues to rank at the top of the list for Gen Z’s workplace preferences with 28% ranking it first, while 14% value corporate social responsibility efforts. More than two-thirds of Gen Z workers expect in-person training from their employer. They also value clear health and safety guidelines and prefer an easy commute and modern office amenities.
Related: Nearly 1 in 3 North American employees unable to meet basic needs, research finds
Health care and health-related issues are the most important issue to Gen Z students, coinciding with their desire to work in health care settings, due largely to their own personal experiences with health-related issues, the report said. In the 2024 presidential election, this generation indicated the issues that it cares about most are the economy, social justice and civil rights, and government corruption, according to the report.