Gen X replaced Baby Boomers, Millennials replaced Gen X, Millennials will be replaced by Gen Z, and Gen Z will be replaced by Gen Alpha. This is the cycle of our evolution, isn’t it? Every generation will be replaced by another, whether it is the workforce or life. Millennials are the forever crisis generation, still choosing loyalty over several things. While millennials are contemplating their lives, going through phases of existential crisis, Gen Z is opening start-ups and indulging in entrepreneurship. Something really commendable, isn’t it?
However, Gen Z has quite a reputation with their casual professionalism, having the same brazen vocabulary when they are in a boardroom or out for brunch and so many more. The list doesn’t just end here, but if you thought the list was complete, a new, more disruptive trait has emerged. Add this new thing to their ledger. According to a recent survey by Deel’s internal database, 7 out of 10 young professionals in India are leaving and switching jobs for better pay.
They are the serial job-hoppers. Their primary motivation? To chase a better salary. After all, money is never enough for anyone, isn’t it? But what about old-fashioned virtues like loyalty, job integrity and growth?
Corporate brings you every why and what of this scenario!
Following a Trend Or ‘Hunger’ Doesn’t End?
Is the Insta-savvy generation following a trend? For India’s Gen Z workforce, the line between following a trend and an insatiable hunger for more is increasingly blurred. What if this job-hopping wave is actually a rebellious trend? Or this trend has evolved into a defining trait of a generation that refuses to settle. What’s the reality? The ‘hunger’ for better pay, faster growth, and greater recognition, Gen Z seems to be craving for more and more. They wish to fulfill all their desires at once. They don’t believe in waiting and pursuing for something, instead they want everything to be fast-paced. So, Gen Z has greater greed and appetite than its previous generation?
What Did The Survey Reveal?
| Motivation | Ready to Switch |
| Higher Salary | 70% |
| Hybrid/Remote Job | 55% |
| Faster Career Growth | 48% |
| Work Culture | 42% |
| Job Security | 38% |
The Reasons Behind This Jobhopping
Rising Costs of Living
Millennials, while you used to patiently wait for year-end appraisal cycles, have gone through HR review and accepted the fate as per the company. Apparently, Gen Z doesn’t have all the patience. Does it mean they aren’t getting the hike? No, they have received the highest hikes in Asia-Pacific region.
However, despite receiving the fastest salary hikes, an average of 11% year-over-year, many Gen Z professionals in India feel their earnings are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living. This is the most common reason in major metropolitan areas like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.
The Want For Everything
But even their raises can’t match the inflation and high living expenses. They all want a fast-paced life in terms of growth as well as life. From travel to technology, Gen Z wants a taste of the good life, everything at once. They want a luxury home, a lavish lifestyle, tech gadgets, and want to travel the world so they can flaunt their Instagram-worthy pictures.
Quick Gains
In a country where savings once took priority over spending, Gen Z professionals want to break the old mould. Many watched parents scrape and save, penny by penny. They feel like living in a cage where they have ‘no’ on everything. TikTok stories light up with side hustles, money tips, and even moonlighting. In this new world, job loyalty feels outdated. What matters? Earning enough to live well and to plan for tomorrow.
Many Gen Z workers feel that changing jobs is the best way to get the salary they deserve. Promotions and raises often fall short, trapped behind old habits and tight budgets. Rather than settle, they look outside for quick gains.
Shunning Old Rules
Gen Z doesn’t want to stick to the old rules for career paths and growth. The success for them isn’t ladder-based; it’s a high-speed escalator, and they’re not afraid to switch directions if the view or the pay isn’t right. Young Indian professionals voiced out in a recent survey and said they would jump ship for a better paycheck, and they’re not shy about it. In a world where rent, Netflix, and cold brew all cost more than ever, loyalty has become just another word for missed opportunity. Let’s see what the reasons are behind their chase!
No Need For Loyalty
The old decorum we all followed needed long tenure for professional success. Gen Z does not believe in such a thing, and their attitude is changing toward such a thing. They view frequent job changes as a path to skill development, personal growth, broader experience, and, of course, better compensation. They consider their job-hopping as a way of self-advocacy for a better life and professional growth.
The Want For Remote Jobs
Over half of Gen Z professionals want to work remotely. They would accept a fully remote job with a global company if it offered better pay. They want hybrid work models and prefer a blend of office and remote work.
Money Matters The Most
Commodities are no longer cheaper. Everything has gone beyond affordability. Gen Z is raised in the age of skyrocketing tuition fees and side hustles. They say, ‘We know our worth and we are not afraid to negotiate, compare, or walk away. With salary info a Google search away, why settle for less?’ Gen Zers use LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Insta DMs to benchmark offers and demand what’s fair.
No Growth, No Loyalty
Stagnation is the enemy for everyone, especially if the world around you is moving faster. If a job doesn’t offer learning or seems stuck in a rut, Gen Z will not stay in the same place. No, LinkedIn-worthy title, Gen Z is already eyeing the exit. No swanky office, they will never accept the job. But here’s a catch. Sure, they want meaning and flexibility, but if the pay isn’t right, even the coolest office beanbags can’t keep them around.
So, Are Gen Z Fickle-Minded?
Gen Z calls older generations outdated, and older generations call them fickle-minded. Doesn’t matter if we call them restless or just allergic to boredom, but this generation treats life like a playlist. This means if the tune doesn’t vibe, they will switch to the next. They are on forever state of ‘refreshing the feed’ on their careers, relationships, and even their coffee orders.
This hunger for more is changing the ways of work across India. Companies will adapt. The economy will evolve. The next time you spot a bustling group of young colleagues chasing deadlines and dreaming big, remember, they carry the country’s future in their hands, and they aren’t afraid to reach for more and quit as they want.
