What Does India's Gen Z Want? Pay, Flexibility And Purpose At Work Top Priorities, Suggests Survey

A new report from recruitment firm Randstad India, titled “The GenZ Workplace Blueprint”, confirms that India’s youngest workforce cohort is fundamentally reshaping traditional career expectations, prioritising

a potent combination of financial security, radical flexibility, and alignment with personal purpose. For Gen Z (born 1997-2007), compensation and stability are viewed not just as perks but as fundamental entitlements, demanding that true engagement must extend far beyond the pay cheque.

The findings reveal a generation that blends ambition with pragmatism, often seeking blended career models. A significant 43% of Indian Gen Z express a preference for a full-time job combined with a side hustle, seeing this as the ideal balance between professional stability and entrepreneurial freedom—a trend that is notably more pronounced than among their global counterparts. This desire for autonomy is reflected in their retention drivers: while better pay (37%) remains the top factor to stay, flexible hours (25%) and work-life balance (22%) are cited as stronger motivators than traditional perks like extra leave.

This generation’s high mobility underscores their pursuit of growth. An alarming 38% of Gen Z report planning to stay in their current roles for less than a year, indicating that they are “growth-hunting” rather than aimlessly “job-hopping”. Low pay, cited by 50% as a reason for early exit, alongside misaligned values and poor workplace culture, is the quickest way for employers to lose young talent.

Furthermore, the relationship with technology is complex. While a commanding 82% of Gen Z are enthusiastic about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use it extensively for problem-solving, 44% also express worry about its long-term impact on their jobs—a higher level of anxiety than seen in older cohorts. This pragmatic view fuels a demand for continuous, tech-led learning, with 52% actively using AI tools for upskilling, complemented by on-the-job training.

As Gen Z prepares to constitute a commanding share of India’s workforce, the Randstad report serves as a clear blueprint for employers: those who invest in continuous learning, offer genuine flexibility, and embed purpose-driven, inclusive cultures will be the ones who successfully attract and retain this transformative generation.