Over 40% of Gen Zs in manufacturing plan to quit within six months: report

Companies are urged to focus on being purpose-driven. 

Over 40% of Gen Z workers in manufacturing are considering leaving their jobs within the next three to six months, a new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) said.

Compensation is part of the problem, but so are the lack of career progression, limited recognition, uncaring and uninspiring leaders, insufficient skill development opportunities, and insufficient support for personal well-being.

The report, which drew from a McKinsey research, argued that companies focused solely on output are struggling to retain staff. To address this, WEF noted that companies must focus on being purpose-driven.

This starts by adopting a proactive, personalised stance towards employees and seeking to understand the underlying drivers of disengagement before they manifest as a lack of motivation and, eventually, resignation.

This involves listening intently to employee feedback, analysing trends, and acting decisively to create a workplace that nurtures its people.

Some plants that implemented these measures, such as mentorship programs, rebalanced workloads, and training opportunities, reported turnover reductions of more than 30%.

Sites that emphasised employee well-being also saw daily absenteeism fall by over 40%.