Career mapping and providing clear paths for internal growth remain important strategies for keeping great employees in-house, and understanding exactly when Gen Z expects to be promoted at work is an important factor in recruiting and retaining the newest generation of workers. While Gen Zers are often characterized by their desire for quick growth and career advancement, a closer examination of their promotion expectations in 2023 tells a slightly different story. In fact, over the past year, there has been a notable shift in their outlook when it comes to rising through the ranks at work in this economy, and employers looking to future-proof their organizations with fresh talent need to be taking note.
To get a sense for how internship and entry-level job candidates are approaching the job market, including how soon they expect to be promoted and how that has changed, we surveyed more than 3,000 Gen Z students and new grads about their internship and job searches in spring 2023, and compared it to data we’ve collected from spring 2022. See below for what we’ve found:
How do different generations approach promotions at work?
Before we dive into how Gen Z is approaching the job market and promotions, it’s important for talent acquisition leaders to understand that different generations of employees view workplace advancement differently — and that attractions and retention strategies that appeal to more seasoned workers may not have the same effect on the newest entrants to the workforce.
For example, according to content and marketing strategist Emmalynne Rosser, who studies the relationship between data and decision-making, Baby Boomers tend to believe that experience is the key measurement for promotion, while Gen X expects to be promoted based on merit. Millennials, on the other hand, believe that the more they contribute, the more likely they are to move up. Finally, Emmalynne writes that she has found that Gen Z expects promotion as a given after being in a role for a certain amount of time. That being said, employers looking to attract and retain Gen Z need to have strategies in place to both help Gen Z candidates understand when and how they might be promoted, and provide opportunities for them to upskill and start on the path to advancement.
Below we’ll dive into exactly how much time Gen Z expects to be in one role before moving up based on our survey data, how that has changed over the past year, and how this might affect campus and university recruiting strategies.
How have Gen Z’s expectations for promotions changed over time?
When we surveyed Gen Z candidates in spring 2022, we found that 75% of candidates expected a promotion after just one year or less. However, in our most recent pulse survey from spring 2023, that figure dropped to 40%.
Additionally, we found that the share of candidates that don’t expect a promotion before 2 years grew from 11% (spring 2022) to 30% (spring 2023). Specifically, 9% of candidates in 2022 said they expected a promotion at the second year mark and 2% said they expected a promotion at two and half years. In 2023, however, 23% of candidates said they expect a promotion after two years at their company, and 7% expect a promotion at the two and half year mark. At the same time, our data shows that 70% of Gen Z still expect a promotion at work within 18 months on the job.
Why have Gen Z’s promotion expectations shifted?
It appears that Gen Z’s promotion expectations have shifted along the trends we are seeing in the economic climate and labor market. Specifically, since our 2022 survey hiring has slowed — if not completely halted for many companies — and widespread layoffs in the tech industry have saturated the news cycle for internship and job seekers. It’s possible that Gen Z’s promotion expectations have cooled off as the economy has experienced a cool-down as well.
The data sets on Gen Z and their promotions also align with the fact that Gen Z is increasingly losing confidence in their ability to secure a good job. Specifically, our 2023 survey results reveal that nearly 60% of Gen Zers are not confident they’ll find a good role this year, which is up from 15% in fall 2022. Plus, we found that Gen Zers are now sending out more than 50 applications to land one good role in today’s job market.
In other words, the labor market has shifted from a candidate-driven market to one where interns and entry-level professionals are finding it difficult to find work, and they are feeling uncertain as they embark on their career journeys and set their expectations for their careers.
What do Gen Z’s promotion expectations mean for employers today?
Understanding Gen Z’s promotion expectations can help employers better attract and retain top talent. And while we found that Gen Z’s expectations around promotions have cooled a bit this year, it remains significant that 70% of Gen Zers expect a promotion within their first year and a half on the job.
During the recruitment process, employers should ensure that Gen Zers understand promotion timelines and provide clear and transparent communication about career paths and advancement opportunities at their company. This includes outlining the skills and experiences necessary to progress to the next level. Recruiters can highlight any mentorship programs and training opportunities that you may offer to help Gen Zers acquire new skills and grow in their roles quickly. To manage Gen Z effectively on the job, companies today need to ensure that they remain open and transparent around promotions and career advancement opportunities, and help Gen Zers understand the opportunities available to them to upskill.
While a strong majority of Gen Zers may no longer expect promotions within one year on the job, 70% expect to rise the ranks at work within 18 months. And by prioritizing promotions as both an attraction and retention strategy, organizations can signal to Gen Z employees that their growth and advancement are valued and supported within the company. This is especially significant as Gen Zers continue to lose confidence in the job market and their abilities to thrive as professionals. To learn more about Gen Zers entering the workforce in this market, you can download our full report on early career recruiting and internship and entry-level candidates in 2023.
