By Sudarshan Aryal

While Western countries are looking for alternatives to Gen Z, China is looking to this as its future. The nature and behavior of this generation disappoint employers in Western countries. Meanwhile, a Chinese company imposed the Gen Z generation in workplaces. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of Gen Z workers in this era.

Who is Gen Z?

Generally, Gen Z is defined as those born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s. It’s also known as Generation Z. The division of the generations is not done by any single entity. But theorists like Neil Howe and William Strauss played a significant role in naming generations in their 1991 book "Generations." They divided the different cohorts as per the birth date. Now, different entities introduce five different generations from 1946 to the present. According to the theory held by people universally, those born from 1946 to 1964 are called the BabyBoomers generation. Likewise, those cohorts born between 1965 and 1980 are named as Generation X. Likewise, those groups born from 1981 to 1996 are called Generation Millennials, 1997 to 2012 Gen-Z, and those born from 2013 to 2024 are termed Gen-Alpha. After January 2025, Gen Beta has started.

After the generation Z group believes in smart working instead of hard working. They spent their formative years in a digital-first world, characterized by smartphones, social media, and instant communication. The characters of this generation are quite different from previous generations. Gen Z doesn’t compromise on its own responsibility and self-esteem. Typically, they are self-driven, collaborative, and diverse-minded.

Surveys don’t show the favourable outcome.

Although theorists describe the positive characteristics of the Gen Z group, company owners and employers have not been able to feel its positive results in the workplace. At the beginning of 2025, a report was published about the Gen Z employee’s performance in workplaces. The Haas School of Business at the University of California surveyed over 1000 Gen Z workers in different companies. It shows the disquieting result of their performance in office. This study finds that 1 in 4 Gen Z employees are unhappy at work and 20% are considering quitting their jobs. The employer is also not satisfying them due to lacking a strong work ethic, struggling with communication, not handling feedback well, and generally being unprepared for the demands of the workforce.

According to the recently published article in Inc., there are three possible reasons why Gen Z is struggling to keep their jobs. Firstly, while cohorts of this generation are often hailed as digital natives, that doesn’t always translate into strong interpersonal skills in a traditional work environment, and at last they reject the all-work-no-life mentality. It means Gen Z doesn't compromise with traditional work culture, which emphasizes long hours, constant availability, and immersion in one’s job.

China sees a future in Gen Z.

While other countries see many disadvantages of this generation, China is gaining the benefits of Gen Z in the workplace. A study by LinkedIn indicates that 70 percent of Gen Z employees in China prioritize companies that utilize the advanced technology to boost productivity. Chinese companies have specially focused on work-life balance and flexibility, addressing the mental health and growth and development of this generation. Innovative research on the topic of 'Understanding China’s Gen Z in the Workplace' by the CKGSB’s Professor Zhang Xiaomeng and his team has illustrated the important data on Gen Z generations. Drawing from a comprehensive study that encompasses 17,000 responses and 2.4 million data points across several generations, Professor Zhang has offered invaluable insights into Gen Z’s values, career goals, preferences, and unique characteristics.

Similarly, China has considered as a consumer sight not only employees and workers but also Gen Z. According to another study, it shows that Gen Z is a more expensive and luxurious generation. With over 250 million young people, the Chinese Gen Z population is believed to be worth over 5 trillion CNY, and already, the group represents around 12 percent of China’s total consumption. Chinese Gen Z customers are known for their love of luxury goods, optimism, and impulsive shopping behaviors, which are supported by high levels of affluence. These true digital natives are also sophisticated, keen to experience the world, and ready to engage with quality brands that meet their needs, desires, and aspirations.

Pros and cons of Gen Z workers in workplaces

If we can understand and put Gen Z feelings to work, they can result in a productive workforce. This cohort is a smart and techno-friendly generation. Tech savvy and innovation, an entrepreneurial mindset, strong values, inclusivity and connectedness, work-life balance and well-being, and adaptability and flexibility make the smart job with Gen Z groups.

In the same way, lack of face-to-face interaction skills, commitment and loyalty, discipline and work ethic, the potential for burnout, economic uncertainty, lack of maturity, and difficulty with authority are the cons of this generation. If HR understood the worker's nature, Gen Z would be a good employee. Otherwise, it's difficult to work with Gen Z.