All About the Benjamins: Generation Z Motivated by Money, Study Finds

This article was originally published on the International Business Times.

Generation Z is about to enter the workforce, and members want to get paid the big bucks. Apparently, they're very willing to work for it, according to a study released this week.

The demographic is still in school or the early years of college, but the study found they would be more willing to work longer, nontraditional hours and shifts compared to generations before them, Bloomberg pointed out. More than any other generation, they're motivated by money, the survey by job-search firm Monster Worldwide found. About 70 percent of Generation Z said money drove them, compared with 63 percent for millennials, 59 percent for Generation X and 59 percent of baby boomers.

And Gen Z is apparently willing to do what's needed to earn the bigger paycheck they so desire. About 58 percent of Generation Z respondents said they would work evenings or weekends for more money, compared with 45 percent of millennials, 40 percent of Generation X and 33 percent of baby boomers. Of course that willingness to work nights and weekends has a pretty big caveat: Generation Z has yet to enter the workforce and might not entirely grasp what it could mean for their quality of life.

The results could hint, however, at a shift in priorities between generations. "We're seeing drastic differences between what drives employees in Gen Z compared to previous generations like millennials," said Seth Matheson, director of Monster's team of in-house recruiters that work on behalf of its customers, in a press release. "At this stage in the recruiting game, employers looking to attract future talent need to expand their focus beyond millennials to understand the next generation's unique, practical job must-haves, and proactively develop a working environment that will keep them happy and motivated."

The millennial generation has largely been considered to be focused on perks at work, but Gen Z apparently wants more straightforward benefits. Their biggest must-haves at a job, according to the survey, was health insurance (70 percent), followed by competitive salary (63 percent) and a boss they respect (60 percent). The Monster survey was conducted by research agency TNS in January 2016 and talked with 2,000 people, including Generation Z respondents aged 15-20.

And while the survey found Gen Zers were very different than past generations, one universal truth held: the optimism of youth. Just 45 percent of millennials thought work should have a greater purpose than a salary, which was a shade higher than Generation X (40 percent) and boomers (33 percent). Generation Z? Seventy-four percent thought work should mean more than money.