A new report from Randstad Canada suggests Generation Z is transforming the Canadian labour market with high ambition, short job tenures, and a demand for flexibility, despite growing uncertainty about future job security.
The report, titled The Gen Z Workplace Blueprint: Future-Focused, Fast-Moving, surveyed 11,250 workers globally—including 750 in Canada—and analyzed over 126 million global job postings. According to Randstad, the findings paint “a nuanced picture” of a generation eager for career growth and stability, but often met with fewer entry-level opportunities and anxiety about the evolving workplace.
“Gen Z is stepping into the workforce with confidence, ambition, and a clear vision of what work should look like,” Randstad Canada said in a statement. “But with fewer entry-level opportunities, rising expectations, and rapid technological change, Canadian employers face a new challenge: how to attract, engage, and retain a generation that is simultaneously future-focused and in transition.”
Among the key findings, the report notes that 41 per cent of Gen Z workers do not feel confident they could find another job. Still, one in three plan to leave their current role within a year. Randstad reports the attrition rate is the highest of any generation, with 22 per cent having left a job in the past 12 months.
Randstad describes this trend not as disloyalty, but rather “unmet ambition and a search for clear career progression, purpose, and growth opportunities.” The average tenure for Gen Z in their first five working years is just 1.1 years, compared to 1.8 years for Millennials and 2.9 years for Boomers.
Photo: Ivan Samkov
At the same time, entry-level opportunities are on the decline. According to the report, global job postings requiring 0–2 years of experience have fallen by 29 percentage points since January 2024. The tech sector is down 35 per cent, logistics by 25 per cent, and finance by 24 per cent.
The report also highlights how Gen Z is turning to artificial intelligence to gain a competitive edge: 75 per cent use AI to learn new skills, 55 per cent use it at work, and half apply it in job searches. However, nearly half—46 per cent—worry about AI’s long-term impact on their careers. Access to formal AI training varies, with men (46 per cent) and white-collar workers (50 per cent) more likely to receive it than women (38 per cent) or those in operational roles (35 per cent).
In Canada, many Gen Z workers are pursuing side hustles to gain experience and diversify income. Only 45 per cent currently hold a single full-time job, and one in four say they would prefer to combine full-time work with additional roles. Flexibility remains a top priority, with 48 per cent citing flexible hours and 39 per cent citing flexible location as key to their ideal job.
When it comes to retention, Randstad notes that Canadian Gen Z workers are clear about what would make them stay: better pay (54 per cent), improved benefits (23 per cent) and more flexible hours (23 per cent). Still, short tenures persist. Among those who left a job within a year, the main reasons were low pay (51 per cent), poor workplace culture (41 per cent) and lack of progression (34 per cent).
“Employers who recognize this reality and reframe mobility as an asset can turn Gen Z’s drive into a leadership advantage, retaining talent while fueling innovation,” Randstad Canada said.
To support recruitment and retention efforts, Randstad recommends that employers redesign entry-level roles as stepping stones for skill development, offer visible career paths, integrate practical upskilling opportunities, and ensure equitable access to AI training.
“Cultivate a culture that supports flexibility, purpose and growth, all essential to earning loyalty,” the report states. “Involve Gen Z in defining career paths and creating work environments where they feel heard, supported, and engaged.”
For young workers, Randstad offers its own advice: use AI and side hustles to build experience, seek feedback early, recognize the value of fast learning, and build networks to support long-term success.
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Entrepreneur. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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