According to Randstad’s Gen Z Workplace Blueprint report, global Gen Z jobs have dropped by 29% since January 2024, despite growing talent shortages. The research analyzed more than 126 million job postings worldwide and surveyed 11,250 young professionals.
The report shows that while entry-level roles are disappearing, senior positions are stabilising or growing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are accelerating this shift, transforming many traditional early-career tasks. As a result, Gen Z professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to secure their first job.
Rising ambition, shrinking confidence
The report paints a complex picture of ambition and anxiety. Although 79% of Gen Z say they can learn new skills quickly, 41% admit they lack confidence in finding new jobs. Nearly half also believe their education or background limits their career prospects.
Despite this, Gen Z remains focused on long-term goals. About 85% consider career progression when choosing roles. However, their average job tenure is only 1.1 years, the shortest among all generations. Randstad attributes this high mobility to unmet expectations and a hunger for faster growth.
Gen Z and AI: excitement meets uncertainty
AI plays a dual role in shaping Gen Z jobs. On one hand, 58% of Gen Z workers are excited about AI’s potential to improve productivity, and 55% already use it for problem-solving. On the other hand, 46% worry about AI’s long-term impact on job security, up from 40% last year.
This tension reflects both optimism and fear: young professionals see AI as a learning tool but are also aware that it may limit entry-level opportunities.
A call for new career pathways
Randstad CEO Sander van’t Noordende emphasised that employers must “rethink how they onboard and develop their future leaders.” The report urges companies to create transparent, tech-enabled career paths that integrate upskilling and clear growth opportunities.
As automation continues to reshape the workforce, the message is clear: Gen Z jobs may be changing fast, but with the right support and inclusive strategies, this generation can redefine the future of work itself.
Source: Randstad, The Gen Z Workplace Blueprint: Future Focused, Fast Moving (2025)
