Why Gen Z are so motivated by pay

The oldest Gen Zers have had money on the brain since they first entered the workplace –and many have been dissatisfied with their pay packets. Data shows that as Gen Z enter and rise through the workforce, they’re highly pay motivated – and perhaps more than any other generation right now.

The laser-focus on pay is not wholly new – 2016 data from jobs site Monster showed 70% of American Gen Zers named salary as their top work motivator, along with health insurance – but several years on, experts say the economic squeeze has made these young workers even more wage-conscious. In the past year, surveys show their salary expectations have skyrocketed: many are targeting six-figure salaries early in their careers.

This is in no small part due to the fact that Gen Z have found themselves in a unique position among generations. They’ve grown up watching their parents, largely Gen Xers, struggle with money amid economic downturns; now, they’ve graduated into their own economic turbulence, and are worried about securing their futures. As a result, they’re demanding more remuneration from their employers than ever, and at earlier stages in their career – and experts say many young workers are willing to walk for better-paying opportunities.