The data comes from Flexa’s latest Work Index, which pooled insights from a sample of over 40,000 job posts and nearly 30,000 job seekers on their priorities for new roles between January and June 2025.

Flexa, the future of work experts, found that Gen Z are 68% more likely to prioritise personal development (such as language lessons, mentoring schemes and study leave) when looking for new roles, compared to other generations. Just under a third (31%) of Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers are prioritising jobs that come with opportunities for personal development.

Gen Z workers are currently facing an extremely competitive job market. UK grad job openings have fallen to their lowest levels since 2018 - lower than during the pandemic – as AI takes on tasks associated with entry-level positions. Gen Z workers are looking to gain the skills they need to adjust to evolved roles. According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, 70% of employers expect to hire staff with new skills, and workers can expect that two-fifths (39%) of their existing skill sets will be transformed or outdated in the next five years.

Yet the need to adapt to the changing labour market isn’t confined to younger workers. Across all age groups, Flexa has recorded a 240% increase in the number of job searches for roles offering learning and development benefits since the start of the year.

The majority of companies recognise that workers want to be supported in their growth – since January, nearly two-thirds (64%) of job posts have advertised learning and development benefits. Employer offerings such as personal development days, study sabbaticals and coaching are all ways businesses can attract top talent – a strategy being embraced by the biggest brands including HEINEKEN UK, Mars UK and Vodafone.

Flexa’s data challenges the conception that Gen Z workers are ‘task maskers’ that shy away from work. This isn’t the first time Flexa’s research has called into question pervasive ideas about Gen Z. In May, Flexa revealed that Gen Z are willing to forgo working from home in order to secure jobs, and are the least likely age group to want ‘remote-first’ roles.

Molly Johnson-Jones, Co-Founder and CEO, Flexa, comments: “‘Growth mindset’ jobs that offer opportunities for personal development have become increasingly important for Gen Z as they enter a very challenging job market. Of all working-age generations, Gen Z is most comfortable with the AI tools that are both taking away work and creating new opportunities - Deloitte recently found that 57% of Gen Z are already using GenAI in their day-to-day work. Such technological ease is just one of the ways that younger generations will bring great value to companies as AI continues to transform workplaces.

“But with AI taking on the burden of low-level, repetitive tasks, the nature of roles available to job seekers entering the workforce for the first time is changing. Gen Z recognise that they need to upskill to take full advantage of the new opportunities this creates, including higher-value and more meaningful work. Similarly, many employers are embracing their responsibility to help younger workers achieve this.”

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