Are New Zealand workers less ambitious these days?

A recent poll is highlighting a possible shift in the aspirations of New Zealand’s workers when it comes to work-life balance and climbing the corporate ladder.

The survey, encompassing responses from 1,035 New Zealand workers, was done by Frog Recruitment.

A mere 18% of workers aged 20-35 reported putting their career ambitions at the forefront of their priorities, according to Scoop Business.

Further, 80% of workers aged 35-50 also expressed contentment with not ascending the career ladder.

“People can become ‘competent complacent’ in their job. They may have been in their role for a long time and are very good at it, but they may be stale in their work and have stopped exploring new ways of achieving outcomes because they feel they have done it all before,” Shannon Barlow, managing director of Frog Recruitment, said.

“They are settled into the status quo.”

Lack of career progression

The poll further revealed 39% of Gen Z and millennial workers are unhappy as they feel their careers are not progressing as they would like, said Scoop Business.

Barlow noted these workers often find themselves blocked by those occupying roles longer than might be beneficial for the organization’s health. This situation has driven some to seek opportunities elsewhere, including abroad.

Interestingly, the survey noted that a majority of younger workers (82%) prefer to prioritize work perks and benefits over aggressive career advancement, valuing work-life balance above the traditional pursuit of climbing the corporate ladder.

“Climbing the corporate ladder, or any work ladder, can come with the burden of work stress. The pressures of competing with colleagues, overtime, travel, and pushing beyond the comfort zone aren’t for everyone,” Barlow said in Scoop Business.

“The last decade has shown us that achieving a healthy work-life balance will reduce burnout and improve the productivity of our workforce. Employers have never been more tuned in to offering work flexibility to achieve these better mental health outcomes for their people.”

Older workers and careers

The data further unveiled that the desire to ascend in one’s career diminishes with age. Among those over 50, 90% stated that climbing the career ladder was not their primary motivation—a sentiment echoed by 87% of 35-50-year-olds and 82% of workers aged 20-35.

“Most people are very satisfied knowing they’re doing a great job, and many don’t aspire to be managers or to join the C-suite,” said Barlow.

“A high-performing team includes different people with different perspectives, personalities and personal aspirations. Recognising work satisfaction means different things to different people is the strength of a successful team.”

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