Financial concerns driving young shift workers to switch employers
Gen Zs have surpassed Millennials to make up the majority of shift workers in Australia, with employers told to brace for a "fundamental generational shift."
Deputy's annual Big Shift Report revealed that Gen Zs have now surpassed Millennials as the largest demographic of shift workers for the first time since the record began in 2021.
Gen Zs now make up 47% of all shift work hours, compared with 33% of Millennials, and 16% of Gen X.
According to the report, Gen Zs are less willing to tolerate limited career progression or low pay. It found that 35% of Gen Z shift workers are actively looking for a new job, with 78% citing pay as their biggest motivator.
"A fundamental generational shift is underway, with Gen Z redefining the very concept of work value, placing unprecedented emphasis on remuneration," said Silvija Martincevic, CEO of Deputy, in a statement.
"Employers who cling to outdated notions of workplace priorities will find themselves increasingly alienated from the talent they desperately need to thrive."
Meanwhile, the report found that women make up the majority of the shift workforce but are also more likely to face greater financial insecurity.
As a result, women are turning to poly-employment (58%) in order to make ends meet.
"While less mobile in the job market than their male counterparts, women are resilient and turn to poly-employment as a means of achieving both reliable income and flexible working conditions," Martincevic said.
The CEO stressed that adaptability will be important in supporting female shift workers who face additional caregiving and domestic responsibilities.
"Businesses offering more stable and equitable opportunities for women will help to ensure long-term workforce sustainability," she said.
Deputy's annual Big Shift Report analysed a total of 79.6 million shifts and 548.1 million hours of 704,600 shift workers across hospitality, retail, healthcare, and services.
It found that nighttime spending in Australia grew to become a $20.9-billion industry, with cities in the country surpassing even New York and Los Angeles.
Dr. Shashi Karunanethy, Chief Economist at Geografia, said the shift is driven by three factors. They are:
Changing consumer habits and rising incomes
Regulatory shifts
Urban heat and climate change impact
Brisbane is the top city of night-time shift work, which the report attributed to acute housing pressures in the NSW and Victorian capitals, as well as the cheaper public transportation fares.
According to the report, Brisbane's spending reached $6.2 billion. It has surpassed Melbourne ($5.1 billion) and Sydney ($3.5 billion).
"In the coming years, nighttime economic growth is expected to accelerate across all Australian metropolitan cities," Karunanethy said. "As household incomes grow, there is increasing demand for vibrant, late-night retail and hospitality precincts."
According to the chief economist, city governments are starting to recognise the industry and are starting to loosen trade restrictions to support business districts.
"Consumers too are shifting their shopping and dining habits away from daytime heat towards cooler evening hours," he added. "These factors are reshaping retail patterns, making twilight trading a key driver of economic activity in Australia's urban centres."
