Why Gen Z workers are more likely to quit their jobs

A significant number of Generation Z frontline workers have felt so overwhelmed at what they need to learn in the workplace that they have considered quitting their jobs.

That’s according to a new poll of 1,000 U.S. workers from retail, food service, fitness and hospitality industries which found that 83 percent of workers polled felt overwhelmed to some degree by the amount of information required to work effectively.

The Talker Research survey of 1,000 Americans which took place between April 29 and May 8 and was commissioned by Wisetail, an organizational operations platform, highlighted how Gen Z workers born between 1997 and 2006 appeared especially concerned.

Asked to what extent they agreed with the statement “I’ve considered quitting my job because I feel overwhelmed by the things I need to learn” 11 percent of Gen Z respondents said they “strongly agree.”

A further 17 percent of Gen Z frontline workers polled said they “somewhat agree,” while 17 percent “neither agree nor disagree.”

To put those figures into context, just 8 percent of millennials born from 1981 to 1986 and 9 percent of Gen X, which represents those with birth dates between 1865 and 1980 said they “strongly agree” about considering quitting. By contrast, just 1 percent of baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 felt the same.

Why Do Gen Z Works Want to Quit Their Jobs?

The research points to a general sense of unrest among Gen Z frontline workers, with many appearing to shun opportunities to further themselves in their current workplace.

Asked “How likely or unlikely would you be to learn different skill sets not related to your current role for a potential future job or career in your current industry?” just 27 percent of Gen Z respondents said they were “very likely” to compared with 40 percent of millennials and 32 percent of Gen X workers polled.

In another question, they were asked: to what extent do they agreed or disagreed with the statement “I believe my current role is giving me skills I can use in my future, long term career.”

The results showed that 35 percent of Gen Z respondents said they “strongly agree,” significantly less than 42 percent of millennials who gave the same answer.

However, the most telling difference came in the responses to the question “How likely or unlikely would you be to continue with your current organization if they were to offer you a long-term career?”

Just 25 percent of Gen Z respondents said they were “very likely” to compared with 49 percent each for millennials and Gen X workers. Boomers (38 percent) and the silent generation (50 percent) also scored better in both respects.

Evidence of Gen Z Disenchantment in Workplace

The findings come as part of a raft of research that suggests Gen Z experiences more disharmony and disenchantment in the workplace than any other generation.

In June, a poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek found that 40 percent of respondents considered Gen Z to be the most difficult generation to work with—including by Gen Z themselves.

Gen Z workers answering the poll also appeared to largely prioritize work-life balance over giving their all in the workplace. That might explain the number of frontline workers in the latest Talker Research poll considering quitting in the face of challenges in the workplace.

The numbers also echo the findings of an HR survey of 1,500 U.S. and U.K. employees conducted by the LSE last February that highlighted how more Gen Z workers than any other generation said they were experiencing lower levels of productivity in the workplace.

Job satisfaction among Gen Z workers could be another motivator behind the desire to seek greener pastures. According to a report from Bankrate last month, 39 percent of Gen Z employees polled plan to quit their job in the next year. That’s compared to just 25 percent of all workers.