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By Aliss Higham
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Gen Z workers around the world are prioritizing work-life balance over salary, new research has found.
Why It Matters
In the wake of the coronavirus lockdowns, which prompted remote working allowances for many office-based jobs, how people work and their priorities around working have undergone a considerable transformation.
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Some members of Gen Z—defined as those born between 1997 and 2012—came of working age during the pandemic, and Deloitte, a Big 4 consulting firm, has described them as "radically different" in their attitudes toward careers and "how to define success in life and in the workforce."
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What To Know
Randstad, an international recruitment company, has released its annual work survey, in which it polled more than 26,000 workers across 35 countries—including the U.S. According to the report, work-life balance has emerged as the top priority for all age groups, surpassing key factors such as pay, job security, company alignment with personal values, and future career aspirations.
Of all the workers surveyed, 85 percent ranked work-life balance as the most important factor in their current or future job, followed closely by job security at 83 percent. For the first time in the 22-year history of Randstad's annual review of the world of work, work-life balance surpassed pay (79 percent) as a key motivator for employees.
This shift was particularly evident among Gen Z: 76 percent prioritized work-life balance over pay, compared to 63 percent who valued the reverse.
Mental health support also emerged as more important than salary for the youngest working generation, with 66 percent believing it to be a high priority.
The survey found that the importance of both work-life balance and pay increased with age, with baby boomers valuing them the most, at 88 percent and 87 percent, respectively. But there are regional differences: Latin American workers were the only group where pay outranked work-life balance, the report said.
Globally, 79 percent of respondents reported having a good work-life balance, a slight increase from the 78 percent recorded in last year's survey.
Other top priorities indicated in the report included annual leave (78 percent), flexibility in work location (70 percent), flexibility in working hours (74 percent) and the opportunity to make a personal impact in their roles (68 percent).
Similar research conducted in 2024 also found that Gen Z was more likely to prioritize a healthy balance between work and leisure—with 25 percent of Gen Z workers surveyed by Deloitte saying work-life balance was the reason they chose their current place of work, compared to 19 percent who said salary was the key attraction.
What People Are Saying
Sander van't Noordende, the CEO of Randstad, said in the report's foreword: "Work today is about more than just a paycheck. Talent globally are looking for workplaces that align with their personal values, aspirations and circumstances. For the first time in Workmonitor's 22-year history, work-life balance surpasses pay as the leading motivator. Compensation is still important but talent today have multi-faceted expectations."
What Happens Next
Randstad said in its report that "with talent scarcity challenges expected to increase" in the future, organizations that "prioritize reshaping workplaces to reflect workers' expectations will be in the strongest position to attract and retain talent, and secure a sustainable foundation for long-term business success."
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