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High turnover among young Europeans in Generation Z—people born between 1996 and 2010—is both a reality and a warning sign, according to a new report by global talent firm Randstad.

Of all generations, Gen Z workers are the quickest to change jobs, with an average tenure of 1.1 years in the first five years of their career.

Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are at the other end of the spectrum with 2.9 years, followed by Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980) with 2.8 and Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) with 1.8 years.

Polish Gen Zs are the most impatient to change jobs: within this group, 41% plan to hand in their notice within a year.

The Italians and the Dutch come second, with 37%.

"While employers may perceive this as a lack of loyalty, our findings suggest it’s a reaction to unmet expectations and a keen desire for progression," says Randstad.

Worldwide, Japanese Gen Zs appear to be the most "loyal" to their employers. Not only are they the least likely to leave within a year (22%), they're also the most keen on staying indefinitely.

Gen Z's 'dreams vs money' dilemma as job hunt gets harder

While demand for senior roles (six to ten years or more of experience) is showing signs of a resurgence, Gen Z's job search has become even more competitive in the past year and a half.

According to an analysis of 126 million postings, the number of entry-level openings has shrunk by 29% overall, with drops in sectors like tech (-35%) and finance (-24%).

Randstad says this is driven by "increasing automation through AI and other digital technologies."

Healthcare is one of the few sectors that's bucking the trend, with entry-level openings here up by 13%.

"The need to fill frontline positions for caregivers and technicians, like registered nurses and radiology technicians, has led to a strong or recovering demand for junior roles. Demand for junior radiology technicians surged by over 100%," Randstad tells Euronews.

Faced with a shrinking market and financial pressure, some young workers are coping with pragmatic choices.

Three in five say they would take a job that "doesn't align with their values if pay and benefits were strong." But this, too, comes at a price.

Gen Z talent is the least likely to say their job aligns with their dream role (56% vs. 63% among Boomers), while 37% of them say they regret their sector choice.

Side gigs, career changes and overtime

The rate of Gen Zs currently browsing for other job opportunities is 54%.

Tech seems to be the primary destination for those looking for a way out.

"For every 100 Gen Z workers who leave other industries, 70 move into tech," says the report.

But a career exodus may not be the only choice. Although working full-time remains the preferred option (24%), some alternatives are becoming increasingly popular.

For example, 20% of Gen Zs are keen on taking on a side hustle on top of a full-time job, while 10% would opt to combine a part-time job with a side gig, and 9% would choose multiple part-time engagements.

"The lack of entry-level roles may also explain why Gen Z is less likely to work in a traditional single full-time role than the global average (45% vs. 51%)," says Randstad.

Gen Z's relationship with AI: Hopes and fears

Gen Zs are AI-savvy but also concerned about this technology and its possible repercussions.

Around 55%, above the global average, already use it to solve problems at work, but 46% are, at the same time, worried about the long-term impact on the job market, a significant rise from the 6% in 2024.

Worldwide, Indians are by far the most avid Gen Z AI-users at work (83%), followed by Brazilians (74%) and Spaniards (64%).

The most sceptical worldwide are the Japanese, with only 42% of young workers who report using AI at work.

"Gen Z’s enthusiasm for AI and technology puts them in a good position to meet growing market needs for tech and data skills," says Randstad.

"Our research finds a high prevalence among Gen Z of in-demand skills such as data analysis, AI and big data and programming."