Gen Z care extra about work-life steadiness than being effectively paid and switch down jobs in the event that they assume employers are ‘unethical’, examine finds

Generation Z workers value work-life balance above wages and put a premium on ethical considerations, with four in 10 young British employees saying they have considered walking away from companies they consider ‘unethical, a survey has found.

Almost two-thirds of 18- to 27-year-olds want jobs that fit in with other aspects of their lives, narrowly outstripping the number who prioritise a competitive salary, according to research conducted by Co-operatives UK.

Work-life balance was the highest-ranking factor for 63% of young British workers, with pay coming in a close second on 62% and a good working environment the key consideration for 46%.

A total of 42% said they had contemplated quitting a job over perceived shortcomings in a company’s social purpose and values, while 40% admitted they had shunned firms they deemed ‘unethical’. 

‘Gen Z wants to reshape the future of work, demanding that businesses prioritise people, planet, and purpose over pure profit,’ said Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, which represents a network of 7,000 British independent co-operative businesses. 

‘Younger people want their work to be meaningful and impactful. They aspire for a better world – and clearly want to do something about it.’

Among the 1,000 Gen Z respondents to the survey, 63% felt ‘conflicted’ over their employers’ failure to make a positive contribution to the local community and society more widely. A total of 68% said their jobs felt meaningless because they did not have a beneficial impact on the world at large.

Young workers also identified the gender pay gap as an important consideration (29%), together with honesty and integrity (28%) and a company’s environmental impact (23%). 

A woman takes notes while working on a laptop. Generation Z employees value work-life balance and ethics above wages, according to a new survey

Only 20% said hybrid working was important.

‘Gen Z understands the importance of mental health and the need to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and will push back against the notion that they need to sacrifice personal wellbeing for career success,’ said HR analyst and author Mervyn Dinnen. 

‘They see an uncertain work future, so prioritise developing a diverse range of skills.’

Tellingly, 90% of Gen Z workers said they felt like a cog in the wheel of a faceless organisation. 

Ellie Rodwell, a 27,-year-old digital project manager for the Developer Society, said moving to the Birmingham-based, not-for-profit digital co-op two years ago has transformed her professional life.

“I felt I wasn’t making a positive difference in the world – and couldn’t make a difference in the company [she worked for previously] because it was so massive. 

‘I’m now somewhere I can make a tangible difference, supporting charities and communities, as well as making a difference in my organisation at the same time.’

The findings of the survey echo those reflected in the latest annual review of the working world by Randstad, a Dutch multinational recruitment firm. 

A woman works while listening to headphones. Only 20% of Gen Z employees said hybrid working was important

Just under three-quarters of Gen Z workers (74%) ranked work-life balance and mental health support (70%) above salary (68%), with 36% revealing they had quit jobs that did not fit in with their personal lives. 

‘Work today is more than just a paycheck,’ said Sander van’t Noordende, the chief executive of Randstad. 

‘Talent’s expectations have shifted, they prioritise mental health, wellbeing, flexibility and meaningful connections, alongside traditional motivations like pay and career progression. 

‘This transformation isn’t just a trend – it’s a new baseline for how we define success in the workplace.

‘We are still operating in a talent-scarce environment where we need all hands on deck, and our research shows that Gen Z are willing to seek new roles if their expectations are not met. 

‘Employers need to close the gap between what they are offering Gen Z talent and what talent are demanding.’

Nor is the trend confined to Generation Z, with 83% of staff surveyed by Randstad overall identifying work-life balance alongside job security as their principal concern. 

Financial considerations came in a close second on 82% – the first time in the 22-year history of the survey that finding harmony between the personal and the professional has outstripped salary.

Randstad’s report also closely mirrored Co-operative UK’s findings around the importance of social and environmental considerations. 

More than half of Gen Z workers said they would be unwilling to work for a company that did not share their values in these areas (52%), while 76% wanted their workplace to feel like a community.

Gen Z – defined as individuals born between 1997 and 2012 – accounts for roughly 30% of the global workforce, according to the World Economic Forum.