The Gen Z Work Crisis: How Gen Z Work Culture Is Being Redefined By AI And Side Hustles?

If there is one thing Gen Z is known for, it is being one of the most productive generations in several decades. Unfortunately, there are many issues that this generation has faced so far in the work culture. Gone are the days when you could start a job, work there for a bit of experience, move on to your dream job, work for 40 or so years, and retire peacefully. Gen Z has to deal with a work culture that has evolved in a way that is pretty much alien compared to what we used to have just a decade ago. The Gen Z work culture has been impacted by two dominant forces as of late: artificial intelligence and the side hustle culture. In this blog, we will take a look at the Gen Z work crisis and see how these two factors influence the future of work for our planet’s flagship generation. 

Understanding the Gen Z Work Crisis: What is going on in the Gen Z job market?

Before we go any further, it is important to understand by heart that the Gen Z work crisis has been caused by several factors, so it’s not a problem that hinges on one issue only. Particularly, many scholars have debated that high financial need and low job security are the main overarching reasons that have led to the strangeness of Gen Z job trends. Let us look at how the Gen Z job market is doing these days.

The Financial Strain and Stagnant Wages

Gen Z is a cohort of people who are essentially accustomed to financial strain. The Gen Z financial stress becomes evident when you consider the fact that student debt and living expenses seem to only stack and grow with time. It also doesn’t help that most of Gen Z work at entry-level positions, which are not known for paying well.

The AI and Automation Exposure

The relationship between Gen Z and AI is a complex one. On one hand, a lot of Gen Zers consider AI to be a friend; on the other hand, some are terrified of AI. One thing’s for certain, AI and automation are definitely a threat to administrative, analytical, and process-driven jobs, which are mostly occupied by new graduates. If you are a student who wants to write about AI and the future of work for an essay, then our essay writing service can definitely be helpful for you.

High Turnover and the Demand for Flexibility

 The Gen Z career outlook is very different from that of the previous generations. They don’t see jobs as a long-term commitment but more as contracts for skill acquisition. Of course, this leads to Gen Z having incredibly high turnover rates, which has put pressure on employers to craft roles in such a way that Gen Z employees can be retained.

The Rise Of Gen Z Side Hustles In The 2020s

A decade or so ago, side hustles were typically associated with people who were relatively unskilled and were struggling to make ends meet. However, in today’s time, side hustles have become very much normalized. Primarily fueled by economic uncertainty and low job security, Gen Z side hustles have definitely gained increasing popularity day by day.

The Necessity of Diversification

One of the main reasons why side hustles have become so popular is the uncertainty of the economy. Reliance on one income stream is deemed unwise by most of Gen Z, which is why Gen Z's multiple income streams have gained popularity. Young people want to have at least one extra source of income so that they can protect themselves from a financial crisis.

Technology Lowers the Barriers to Entry

Technology has helped young people start their own businesses, which reduces their need to seek jobs. Granted, it is not super easy to start a successful business on the get-go, but it is definitely something that they have done to reduce Gen Z financial stress.

The Pursuit of Autonomy and Purpose

Money is not the only motivator for many Gen Zers, as they also yearn for autonomy and control over their own business. The positive effects of these Gen Z side hustles include direct ROI, skill ownership, and the ability to perform meaningful work. 

AI: A Friend or a Threat?

Let us discuss the most pressing issue that everyone in the world is fixated on at the moment: artificial intelligence. When AI started to become mainstream with the rise of LLMs just a few years ago, many of us looked at this development with intrigue and fascination. 

Now, scholarly opinion on AI has soured, as more and more people are raising concerns about the potential drawbacks of AI. Let us try to understand the relationship between Gen Z and AI to see whether it is a helpful tool or a backstabbing knife to our young generation.

The Threat: Erosion of Entry-Level Work

Let’s start with the creeping danger of AI, as that’s probably what you want to know most about. If you compare the Gen Z vs millennials workplace, you will see that millennials come in all shapes and sizes. To put it simply, there were generalists and there were specialists; however, this seems to be slowly eroding with time.

AI has been slowly taking generalist skills, which makes the demand for entry-level positions much lower. This has forced Gen Zers to focus on gaining specialist skills from the very beginning, exacerbating the Gen Z work crisis.

The Friend: The Ultimate Side Hustle Co-Pilot

Speaking of AI, it should be mentioned that AI is actually a pretty good co-pilot tool if used correctly. Sure, there is always the threat of AI taking over, but if you use it responsibly to automate your own tasks, then you can have the AI working under you rather than stealing your job.

The topic of AI and the future of work is a contentious one, but be mindful that you can upskill yourself in today’s work environment by simply learning how to use AI responsibly.

Gen Z Burnout: The Mental and Emotional Toll of Modern Work

It’s a problem not exclusive to Gen Z, as every one of us has experienced it at some point. That’s right, we are talking about burnout and exhaustion. While the nature of work has definitely changed for Gen Z, what’s remained constant is the fact that Gen Z are still humans, and they experience burnout and tiredness the same way any other human does. Let us learn what are the exact causes of Gen Z burnout. 

The Erosion of the Boundary Between Work and Personal Life

While comparing Gen Z vs millennials' workplace culture, you will see that both these generations suffer from the inability to keep their personal and professional lives separate. For previous generations, getting back from the workplace meant that their work was over for the day. For Gen Z, however, it is essentially a rewind as they now get to work on their side hustles.

Performance Anxiety and the Duality of Pressure

 Gen Zers are working a staggering 60 to 80-hour workweek, managing both their jobs and their personal business. Not only do they have to bear with their nagging higher-ups at the workplace, but they also have to deal with the ins and outs of their personal endeavours. This is obviously the most prominent cause of Gen Z burnout nowadays in Australia.

Existential Anxiety and Economic Precarity

Most importantly, Gen Z burnout is exacerbated by the crippling fear of economic imbalance. People are afraid that an unprecedented event like the pandemic will occur again and rock their employment cradles so hard that they will fall off. Naturally, to prevent this from happening, Gen Z job trends have evolved as working multiple jobs is basically the norm for a lot of Gen Zers.

Future Outlook: How Can The Gen Z Work Crisis Be Averted?

One thing’s for certain, Gen Z is living in a transformative time, and like any other generation before them, they will experience new things and gradually grow accustomed to them. However, there are certain things we need to be on the lookout for as members of the world’s flagship generation. In this section, let us discuss the Gen Z career outlook and how you can make an individual effort to avert the Gen Z work crisis.

Embrace the Hybrid Model of Employment

Companies can try to accommodate the side hustle of their employees into the schedule and fix better times for their employees. This way, Gen Zers will be able to focus more on meaningful work rather than maximizing hours spent sitting in front of their computer screens.

AI-Proof the Corporate Role

The relationship between Gen Z and AI will only continue to sour if actionable steps aren’t taken. Corporate roles for Gen Z should focus on skills like creative problem-solving, ethical decision-making, emotional leadership, and strategic communication, skills that only humans are capable of.

Achieve Hyper-Specialization

The future of work hinges on the top 1% of people who are too skilled to be replaced. When you upskill yourself too much, you won’t even need Gen Z multiple income streams, nor will you ever fear getting replaced. At that point, you will be too valuable an asset for any employer to let go.

Master ‘Human’ Skills

Lastly, focus on gaining skills that only a human being can perform, which are not replicable by AI. These skills include empathy, negotiation, problem-solving, etc. This way, the overall Gen Z work culture will see an unprecedented rise in stability as the chances of AI replacing humans will steadily decline.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we would like to reiterate that these times are more transformative than anything. In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of AI and side hustles, it is no wonder that Gen Z is having a hard time adjusting to the new norms of Australia’s and the world’s work culture. However, this Gen Z work crisis is only temporary, as we will eventually be past this by the time the youngest members of Gen Z join the workforce. Although that does hinge on the probability that the world’s normalcy will remain impact lest an earth-shattering event like the pandemic were to happen again. If you want to learn more about the evolving workplace culture of Gen Z, feel free to check out more blogs at Do My Assignment!