Scarce resources or independence: What makes Generation Z uninterested in employment?

More people than ever before are choosing to launch their own businesses instead of accepting traditional jobs. Born after 1996, the group known as “Gen Z” is leading this movement in Pakistan as well as internationally.

There are several reasons why this tendency is growing. The desire to get away from typical employment schedules and frequent supervision by superiors drives a lot of Generation Z employees. They want to be able to travel the world with just a laptop and a dependable internet connection, according to a BBC Urdu article.

In addition, they yearn to be independent and autonomous; they want to be in charge of their own destiny and be able to work whenever and whenever they choose. They are drawn to this demanding and exciting atmosphere, which encourages them to pursue entrepreneurship.

According to a comprehensive poll conducted by the prominent British financial organization Lloyds Bank, sixty percent of young people in Generation Z stated that they would rather quit their employment and launch their own businesses. Eighty percent, however, stated that they would like to be their own “boss” as opposed to working for another “boss.”

19% of respondents claimed that there is no job satisfaction and that they may find tranquility and work on their own terms if they so want.

According to a different study conducted in the United States, half of the youth prefer starting their own business over working a job, and similar trends are also being seen in Pakistan and India.

For example, Ayesha Awan chose to pursue a different career path while still pursuing her education. She is a co-founder of SocialBu, a company.

Throughout her education, she made the decision to start her own business instead of taking a job, since she had always been against the concept of working for anyone.

“Freedom to create, think and express is very important to me, that’s why I launched my startup when I got the first opportunity,” Ayesha adds.

It’s risky and tense at the same time. Working in a team is really challenging, but the satisfaction and delight of working alone are distinct,” she continued.

The family was the source of the initial reluctance, she claims, but in her opinion, conducting business is now quite simple—all you need is a laptop and Wi-Fi to communicate with people anywhere in the globe.

The conventional wisdom is that getting a job is a safer and better alternative in most civilizations, but in nations like Pakistan, the landscape is gradually shifting.

Salman Shahid, the CEO of Gray Matter Global, a Pakistani company, stated that a large number of young people in Pakistan continue to prioritize finding a job above starting their own businesses. His business, Grey Matter Global, assists college students in making career decisions.

According to Shahid, Pakistan’s economic circumstances are causing young people to search for other means of money.

According to him, 78% of university students in Pakistan still favor employment.

However, there has been a shift in young people’s opinions recently, and social media influencers are mostly to blame for this, since they offer young people other ways to make money.

Young people require an alternative lifestyle in addition to struggling to find alternate sources of money. The COVID-19 epidemic is another factor contributing to youths’ shifting attitudes.

As per Shahid, the idea of being ‘your own boss’ was once a joke but is now becoming more and more true. Due to the flexibility of working hours, the ability to work from home, the ability to save on travel expenditures, and the relatively excellent compensation, young people these days choose internships and freelancing.

According to him, the employment market in Pakistan is so bad that young people who have spent between Rs1.5 and Rs2 million on a four-year university degree frequently have to settle for positions paying between Rs35,000 and Rs40,000 a month. He claims that this is an outrageous example of how our culture exploits young people.

It’s hard to say what makes a new business or a job more complex because it depends on a lot of different things, such support networks, environments, and personalities. Both choices have benefits and drawbacks of their own kinds.

The advantage of having a job is that you may live well each month without worrying about the finances of your employer. This makes it possible to support one’s family financially and gives one more time for personal affairs. But job advancement and salary are frequently constrained and plodding.

Within a corporate hierarchy, putting an idea into action may be a difficult and time-consuming procedure that frequently requires weeks to receive approval.

However, entrepreneurship provides limitless financial possibilities together with flexibility in terms of scheduling and decision-making. It also offers a more favorable work-life equilibrium. Nonetheless, there is always a chance of financial loss, therefore business owners need to be ready to put a lot of time and energy into their projects and frequently put in long hours to see results.

Applywise creator, Hamza Ahsan, admits the difficulties he had after starting his business. He was passionate and determined, yet at first lacked experience and direction. Aspiring business owners are advised by Ahsan to persevere in the face of setbacks and to keep going.

Ultimately, choosing between a career and entrepreneurship requires taking one’s circumstances into account and listening to one’s inner voice. However, before doing anything, it is essential to carefully consider the possible outcomes.