Gen Z high schoolers are settling on first-round career picks, with cushy tech jobs becoming less interesting. Some of the digitally native generation is turning away from eyeing careers at their favorite big tech companies like Amazon or Google and instead are tuning into healthcare routes.
An Interest Survey by the National Society of High School Scholars, an academic society with over two million members, reported that Gen Z who have yet to enter the workforce prioritize stability, job location and company reputation as the three biggest determining factors when job hunting.
Tech companies in recent years have shifted away from the stable image Gen Z youth is looking for. Post COVID-19 and the return to work shift, funding in the tech space got tight, leading to over 100,000 layoffs in 2023. In 2024, the horizon isn’t looking too bright, considering that over 60,000 tech jobs have been cut as of August.
Beyond layoffs, tech jobs tend to offer remote or hybrid work, rather than requiring employees in the office. Considering that location is a big factor for Gen Z youth, remote work might not cut it.
While this thought process may not be expected of Gen Z, it makes a lot of sense if you zoom out and consider that average teens spend over eight hours a day online. From social media to digital worlds like Minecraft, Gen Z spends tons of time engaging online and might just want a taste of the in-person world as they eye career opportunities.
When it comes to Gen Z’s increased healthcare career interest, it is safe to say that a generation who spent years of their early education online during a global pandemic – is likely to care about preventing something similar from happening again.
Keeping it gee, it is nearly impossible for tech jobs to be rejected completely in today’s digital era. I forecast that this wave of healthcare interest will simply expand Gen Z’s reach in the workforce, creating more space for young perspectives in fields that may not expect a surge of Zoomer applicants.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.