But then, artificial intelligence came along. GenZ’s aspiration to match their passion with socially-relevant work, along with a respectable payslip and a restless attempt to strike a work-life balance, has run into an AI filter right at the outset.
Two-thirds of the job applicants find the hiring processes increasingly impersonal, according to a LinkedIn survey conducted in November that included over 19,000 responses.
AI has come in the way for GenZers looking to pursue what they love. "People think interest is enough, but hiring today is filter-based, referral-driven and skill-first,” says Payal Singh, HR Recruiter at Quess Corp.
Hiring has become slower, more layered and more opaque due to AI screening, keyword matching, and automated shortlisting. Candidates complain about endless rounds and never hearing back, because recruiters usually reply only to shortlisted candidates.
Unless your experience is legible to the system, your passion may never reach a human being who may be willing to take a shot with the applicant.
Passion and purpose aren’t enough
Fatter paychecks aren’t a priority for GenZ. Only 21% of the respondents told Naukri that they care about salary hikes. Just 12% cared about promotions. The generation has always wanted to value life beyond the bank balance.
A survey by a Mumbai-based job portal Naukri, involving 23,000 GenZ professionals across 80 industries, showed that young Indians are chasing growth, which, a majority of them, define as 'learning new skills'.
However, the economy has become an impediment for those looking for a job with a purpose — or as Ikigai defines it, what the world needs.
"People want creative and meaningful roles. Companies hire for revenue, operations, data, and execution," says Singh.
As immeasurable uncertainties have to come to replace quantifiable risks, employers are optimising for better productivity, at the expense of purpose or passion.
The latest data from the New York Federal Reserve shows that the unemployment rate among graduates in the US is the same as among those without a degree. Essentially, college education no longer comes with career uncertainty.
The impact of the societal shift can be profound on the generation born with the mobile phone and shaped by the deluge of information in the social age.
"The blissful ignorance typically associated with youth never existed for Gen Z. By age 12, most had already gained unprecedented global literacy," a May 2025 report by consulting firm EY said.
The EY survey found that one-third of young adults globally say they usually or always feel anxious or depressed. The incidence was the highest in the US (41%) and Brazil (43%).
That brings us to the most defining GenZ demand: work-life balance. As GenZers come of age, 'lying flat' is no longer an option.
42% of GenZ feel unprepared for how rapidly technology and AI are changing hiring and skill expectations.
Nearly a third of the Indian GenZs surveyed by LinkedIn are looking for new roles or functions. Just as many are seeking opportunities outside their current industries.
For those whose passion or purpose is not translating into offers, Singh’s advice is: Build proof through projects, internships and freelancing. And enter through adjacent roles.
Upskilling is the new currency. Speaking at FICCI's AI India Conclave, MeitY Secretary S Krishnan said in December, "It's not that we are not concerned about job losses, but we believe that the opportunities for creation of newer kinds of jobs in newer areas is far greater, and that happens primarily through reskilling, upskilling, and talent development."
Ikigai, in 2026, is no longer something young professionals stumble upon by following passion alone. It is something they have to actively build by stacking skills, staying adaptable and learning how to translate purpose into proof. The ones who will succeed are those who keep learning and aren’t afraid to start adjacent to where they want to end up.
Also Read: Most in-demand jobs and skills in India in 2025: What to expect in 2026
