What motivates Gen Z at work? An empirical analysis
What motivates Gen Z at work? An empirical analysis

Summary/Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this research is to advance the current research on work motivation in generation Z workforce. Empirical research on this topic is nascent. We attempt to address this research gap. Aim – The objective of this paper is to identify the underlying job characteristic factors that explain motivation in generation Z. Design/methodology/approach – In line with the research objective, we employed empirical research methods. We surveyed 317 employees belonging to this generational cohort using an online survey. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the underlying motivation factors. Findings – Four factors- ‘Job enabled growth opportunities’, ‘Organization support’, ‘Accountability’, and ‘Interaction and feedback’ were extracted using PCA. These factors accounted for 61.98% of total variance, thus providing a framework of motivating job characteristics specific to generation Z. Limitations of the study – Self-report measures were used to obtain responses. Also, the sample size puts constraints on our analysis at this stage to determine any differences on perceptions of work motivation based on demographical data such as age, professional experience, and employment status. Our future research would include a larger sample size could possibly allow us to explore these research avenues. Practical implications – The results of this study are potentially useful to design employee engagement practices. Specifically, the findings of this study have implications for human resource practices such as learning & development, performance management, job analysis, and compensation management. Originality/value – We believe it is one of first works exploring generation Z worker motivation using empirical methods, and a generalized global sample. This study is but a small step in the right direction.

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