Offering a good salary alone can no longer guarantee you an employee. According to 'The Gen-Z Work Code' 2026 report by Naukri, Gen Zs or the youth are
increasingly prioritising work-life balance, learning and growth opportunities over what was earlier viewed as a marker of success-a good salary. In fact, the key findings highlight how 50 percent of Gen Zs consider work-life balance as the most important factor while evaluating a job offer, besides salary. 81 percent of Gen Zs seek recognition in the form of growth opportunities as compared to public/private appreciation, 57 percent define career growth as learning new skills while on the job and 65 percent value transparency above all other company values. The study was conducted on 23,000 Gen Z professionals across over 80 industries who have shared their real, unfiltered opinions about what drives the Gen Z workforce in corporate India. For both Gen Zs and millennials, friends & mentors are the primary sources of career advice, followed by networking platforms as per the survey. According to the report, 57 percent of respondents define career growth as expanding their skills, making it far more important than salary hikes or promotions. This finding was followed by
- Salary hikes: 21%
- Promotions: 12%
- Leading projects: 10%
As per the report, 14 percent of Gen Z employees are ready to leave a job within one year if they do not see opportunities for growth. In comparison, only 3 percent of millennials said they would make such a quick exit. At the same time, higher salaries appear to improve retention (as per the report highlights) Among professionals earning Rs 15-25 lakh per annum, 56 percent said they were willing to stay in the same organisation for five years. This compares with 37 percent of those Gen Zs earning Rs 2-5 lakh per annum.
