Gen Z’s Job Tenure Falls To 1.1 Years, 37 Per Cent Indian Gen Zs Plan To Switch Within A Year, Says Survey

Gen Z’s Job Tenure: Young professionals, especially those born between 1997 and 2012 (Gen Z), are leaving their jobs faster than any other generation, with an average tenure of 1.10 years during the first five years of their careers. Millennials, or those born between 1981 and 1996, on the other hand, average 1.80 years. The corresponding tenure for Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980) is 2.80 years and the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are 2.90 years, according to a global study by Randstad.

The study, titled, The Gen Z Workplace Blueprint, surveyed over 11,250 professionals and analysed over 126 million global job postings. The findings revealed that many Gen Z respondents consider themselves to be in their dream jobs, but a significant portion are still actively seeking new roles. 

Why They are Changing Jobs so Quickly

The report identifies several primary reasons for this mobility. Limited opportunities for career progression are a key factor. 14 per cent of Gen Z respondents said lack of progression was their strongest driver for changing jobs, second only to pay.

Low salary is also a major influence. Inflation and rising living costs have led many respondents to prioritise financial stability when considering new roles. The study found that three in five Gen Z employees would accept a job that does not align with their personal values if it offered strong pay and benefits.

The perception of employer involvement and contribution in career development is another driving factor for the respondents. Around 60 per cent of Gen Z respondents believe their employer genuinely cares about their future. This compares with 68 per cent of Millennials, 72 per cent of Gen X and 76 per cent of Baby Boomers. The figure drops further when comparing work types, with 63 per cent of white-collar Gen Z workers agreeing, versus 57 per cent of blue- and grey-collar workers.

High Rates of Job Hunting

The research further showed that 54 per cent of Gen Z respondents were actively job hunting. Around one in three planned to leave their current role within a year, while just 11 per cent intended to remain long-term in the job.

This trend was not confined to a single country. The percentage of Gen Z planning to leave their role within a year ranged from 41 per cent in Poland to 22 per cent in Belgium and Brazil. In India, 37 per cent of respondents stated that are planning to switch within a year.

Discrepancy Between Dream Jobs and Job Switches

While 56 per cent of Gen Z respondents say their current job aligns with their dream career, they are still changing their current organisation, or switching careers altogether. However, this is lower than Baby Boomers at 63 per cent. Despite more than half reporting this alignment, a substantial share are still seeking new opportunities.

The report notes that 44 per cent of Gen Z say their current role does not align with their dream career, and 37 per cent already regret their sector choice.

Preferred Sectors and New Opportunities

According to the survey, Gen Z is gravitating towards high-growth sectors such as IT, healthcare and financial services. The technology sector has a net gain of 70 per cent in Gen Z talent moving from other industries.

However, entry-level opportunities in some of these preferred sectors are declining. Between January 2024 and July 2025, the IT industry experienced a 35 per cent point decline in junior roles, while finance experienced a 24 per cent point fall. In contrast, healthcare recorded a 13 per cent point increase in entry-level jobs, reflecting demand for frontline and technical roles.

This shows that while Gen Z is targeting these industries, competition for entry-level opportunities in some of them is becoming more intense due to shrinking openings, the study said.

Attrition and Talent Scarcity

The attrition rate for Gen Z over the past 12 months is 22 per cent, the highest among all generations surveyed. This high turnover is happening in the backdrop of talent shortage, where some industries are facing difficulty filling jobs.

The report underlined that in the absence of effective career progression strategies, the gap between job vacancies and suitable talent might increase. Employers should make development visible, actionable and continuous to hold on to young professionals.

Global Variations

Country-level data shows global variation in Gen Z’s intentions to stay or leave. In Japan, only 6 per cent plan to stay in their role indefinitely, compared to 17 per cent in Argentina and 24 per cent in Poland. The percentage planning to leave within a year is highest in Poland at 41 per cent, followed by Italy, the Netherlands and India at 37 per cent. The lowest figures are in Belgium and Brazil at 22 per cent each.

Overall Trends

According to the findings, job tenures for Gen Z are shorter than for any previous generation, despite many respondents reporting that they are in roles they consider to be their dream jobs. The main reasons for this mobility are restricted career advancement, pay concerns and perceptions of low employer investment in long-term growth.