We surveyed 1,200+ members of our Gen Z community on what makes them grow, succeed and engage in the workforce.
We found young Australian professionals are embracing artificial intelligence in the workplace and excelling when they experienced values alignment, access to mentoring and social connection.
Download the report: Hatch Gen Z workforce insights 2024
Embracing AI at work
Young Australian workers are embracing artificial intelligence in the workplace, adopting the technology at speed and without fear as it continues to reshape the professional landscape, according to new research by Hatch.
The November survey of 1216 Gen Z professionals conducted by Australia’s leading jobs marketplace for young people, Hatch, revealed that almost two thirds of young professionals are already using AI tools like ChatGPT to help them at work.
While 58% of Gen Z workers are already using and embracing the new technology tools, 93% of the cohort is not worried about AI threatening their job. Product and engineering workers reported usingAI the most and feeling the least threatened by it.
The research also found that more than two thirds of young workers believe they were being underpaid, amid the increasing financial pressure of a cost of living crisis.
The Hatch perspective
Hatch co-founder and chief executive, Adam Jacobs, said Gen Z’s keenness to embrace AI technologies was an asset to businesses.
“It's very natural for young people, who are digital natives, to adopt new technologies,” he said.
“We all have seen how useful these tools, like ChatGPT, can be and it's exciting that young people are adopting them and finding out how they can help them work.
“All employers are sitting at the start of a major wave of transformation brought on by AI and the next generation can help position them to ride that wave, rather than being threatened by it.”
He added: “While there's a lot that we still need to learn about the way AI is going to change our world, it's comforting to hear that the next generation is optimistic about it.”
Hatch head of AI, Dr Arwen Griffioen, said:
“Modern generative AI is shaking up the work landscape and it’s fantastic to see Gen Z embracing the technology. Time and time again we are shown that human-machine pairs outperform the individual. This broad adoption is demonstrating that ‘in the wild’,” she said.
“This generation is right that the majority of professions are not at risk of being replaced by AI, however the ability to leverage the technology critically and efficiently is quickly becoming a clear differentiator. Gen Z is setting itself up to be the go to person at work.”
Here's what we found
- 58% of young professionals are using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance their work in the office
- 93% of young professionals do not feel threatened by AI, while 7% of young professionals believe AI is a threat to their jobs
- Only half of Gen Z workers are feeling engaged at work
- Fewer than half of Gen Z workers feel they are growing in their current roles despite wanting to
- 55% of Gen Z believe the minimum time you need to spend in a job is 1 year or less
- 90% of young professionals who feel like are making an impact on their company’s mission are engaged at work
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