We’ve curated a selection of data from diverse sources that highlight what purpose and impact mean to Generation Z, how this is shaping the future of work and why a systems-level approach to preparing today’s youth for tomorrow matters to all of us.
Data sources compiled here.
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Known for their history making marches, Generation Z has garnered global attention not only for what but how they are calling for transformative systemic change across society. Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse, gender nonconforming, technologically connected and globally interconnected generation in American history. Identified as those born from 1997 onward by the Pew Research Center, they have come of age in a world of social media influencers, the War on Terror, the Great Recession, the climate crisis, mass shootings, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter and the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is no wonder why Gen Zers have stepped up to try to save the world. Empowered by technology, emboldened by their education and access to information, and fueled by their passion for purpose, this generation has chosen to embrace optimism and champion transformative change.
Representing a quarter of the population in the United States, Gen Z is challenging the status quo in government, business, and society. A recent study reveals that Gen Zers believe they have the power to transform the world for the better, and 83 percent feel they can personally make a difference on issues important to them, especially through volunteerism, donations, protests and online actions. As the vast majority of Gen Zers actively take part in supporting social and environmental causes, 90 percent also believe that government and business should take an active role in addressing the challenging issues of our times. Not to be overlooked, Gen Z is a complex, dynamic cohort: 48 percent are from communities of color, 57 percent accept gender-neutral pronouns, and a majority support progressive politics. Their view of who they can be and what this country can become is inclusive, equitable and ripe with hope.
Have a clear sense of purpose
Believe work should have a greater purpose than earning a salary
Driven by an attention to equality, a sense of purpose, and a desire to create lasting impact, Generation Z is redefining how businesses operate and employees work. Will corporate America keep up?
As Gen Zers enter the workforce—and will soon account for a quarter of the global workforce—they are in search of jobs with meaning. In one recent study 74 percent of Gen Zers expressed that work should have a greater purpose than earning a salary, and another study found that 83 percent of Gen Zers consider a company’s purpose as a key factor in evaluating where to work.
An organization’s culture is also paramount to Gen Z: one study found that an empowering work culture is twice as important to Gen Z than a higher salary. Companies that not only support but accelerate inclusive hiring practices, equitable promotion methods and equal pay are poised to retain talented members of this generation. One study found that 72 percent of Gen Z believes that racial equality is the most important issue of our day, while 36 percent say the number one cause they want their employer to support is equality, followed by the environment.
Born into the digital age, half of this digitally native generation rates the tech industry as a top industry in which to work, while 41 percent and 37 percent are interested in careers in education and healthcare, respectively, based on their desire to do work that supports the greater good.
The most entrepreneurial generation to date, 72 percent of Gen Z is interested in starting their own business. Motivated less by profit and ownership, young entrepreneurs of this generation are guided by their view of entrepreneurship as a vehicle to solve complex social and environmental challenges. One survey of middle and high school students found that 45 percent of this age group wants to invent something world-changing for the good of the world.
Today’s youth are seeking career opportunities with purpose and impact. For existing organizations to attract and retain Gen Z and thrive in our changing world, they must prioritize diversity and inclusion, address gender and racial pay gaps, take authentic stances on social and environmental issues, and nurture empowering workforce cultures. Generation Z is at the ready to enter the workforce and transform business as usual.
Link College & Career Readiness To Impact
The need to provide high school youth with opportunities to discover career pathways that harmonize their desire to pursue meaningful work and create positive impact has never been greater.
With this in mind CreatorsCircle developed our Opportunities Database to help high school students more easily navigate the expanding ecosystem of impact-related youth programs across the United States. Students may search the free online database to discover programs that span geography, focus area and format. Programs included in the database range from a summer program that teaches students about applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to benefit humanity to youth leadership development programs that prepare students for our evolving world.
While all programs listed in our database are specifically designed to benefit high school students and expressly focus on advancing the greater good, not all these programs take a cross-disciplinary, intersectional, or systems-change approach to their work.
One program in our database, for example, helps young women explore tech career paths with the stated purpose of boosting diversity within the industry, although the application of technology to create social, environmental, or economic impact is not addressed. On the other hand, a number of listed programs that directly equip youth to become agents of change fail to actively engage youth from marginalized communities in their efforts. Even more, a number of college and career readiness programs in our database that engage diverse youth do not currently integrate purpose and impact conversations into students’ exploration of potential career pathways.
As we continue to track youth programs, we are encouraged by the increasing number of organizations dedicated to serving diverse high school students. Even so, the opportunity remains for these programs to recognize the cross-sectional nature of their work as it relates to purpose, impact, and the many complex social, environmental, and economic issues facing Generation Z.
