Generation Z wants a piece of the tech pie — the jobs, the companies and the cities — according to a new study released Wednesday by Glassdoor.
The job review site analyzed job application data and company reviews as they relate to the oldest members of the generation, who are entering the workforce. Gen Z follows the Millennial generation, and is defined as those who were born between 1997 and 2012.
According to Glassdoor, 19 percent of job seekers are looking for jobs as software engineers — jobs that pay a median salary of $98,500. Next in line is software developer, with 2 percent of applicants measured over a 3 1/2-month period.
No surprise that the majority of applicants are looking for those positions in the tech industry, and the top five companies attracting interest from Gen Z are IBM, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Deloitte. Amazon is also the most attractive company to Millennials.
With two of the biggest companies in tech in the region, Seattle is among the top cities where Gen Z is looking for work. The city, with 2 percent of applications, trails New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.
Glassdoor also looked at the most highly rated companies by Gen Z employees. Microsoft is right in the mix at the top, tied with Apple and Google, and Seattle-area retailers Costco and Nordstrom also make the top 10.
“Work environment” tops the list of workplace pros for Gen Z employees. Other keywords such as “flexible hours,” “good pay” and “great people” made the cut. “Free food” and “easy work” were further down the list.
As far as cons, don’t ask Gen Z — or anyone for that matter? — to work “long hours” for “low pay.”
Check out the full report on Glassdoor for more insight into what young workers want to do for a living and where.
