7 months ago
Gen Z Values Skills Over Salary
A recent survey by Naukri found that most Gen Z workers in India care more about growing in their jobs and having a good balance between work and personal life than receiving praise or money.
Over 80% of them said that having chances to grow in their careers is the most important thing to them.
Only a small number of Gen Z workers, about 10%, said they want monetary rewards.
The survey also found that Gen Z workers are more likely to quit their jobs if they don't see opportunities for growth compared to older workers, called millennials.
Many Gen Z workers also said that having bad coworkers or bosses who watch them too closely can make them feel stressed.
The survey included responses from 23,000 professionals in many different industries.
The survey also highlights that Gen Z workers value learning new skills over salary hikes, with 57% associating growth with skill acquisition.
Work-life balance is also a key consideration, with 50% of respondents prioritizing it in job decisions.
81% of Gen Z employees prioritize growth opportunities over other forms of recognition.
Only 9% of Gen Z employees value public or private appreciation.
10% of Gen Z employees seek monetary rewards, with higher salary bands showing more interest.
57% of respondents believe career growth is driven by skill expansion, not promotions or salary hikes.
14% of Gen Z employees would quit within a year if there is no growth, compared to 3% of millennials.
- Who
- Gen Z employees in corporate India
- What
- Prioritize growth opportunities and work-life balance over traditional forms of recognition
- Where
- Corporate India across 80 industries
- When
- Survey conducted and published in January 2026
- Why
- To understand the driving factors for Gen Z workforce
Key facts
- Survey Conducted By
- Naukri
- Number of Respondents
- 23,000
- Industries Covered
- 80
- Growth Opportunities Importance
- 81%
- Public/Private Appreciation Importance
- 9%
- Monetary Rewards Importance
- 10%
- Career Growth via Skill Expansion
- 57%
- Gen Z Quit Rate (No Growth)
- 14%
- Millennials Quit Rate (No Growth)
- 3%
- Work-Life Balance Importance
- 50%
- Top Workplace Stressors
- Work-life imbalance (34%), Lack of growth (31%)
