Abstract:

The contemporary labor market is undergoing intensive transformations resulting from technological progress, globalization processes, demographic changes, and socio-cultural transformations. Young adults constitute a particularly significant group of labor market participants, whose attitudes, expectations, and professional behaviors differ significantly from the patterns represented by previous generations of employees. The aim of this study is to analyze the situation of young people in the Polish labor market, with a particular focus on the representatives of Generation Z, and to identify the key challenges and prospects associated with their professional activity. The paper utilizes the method of literature review and the desk research method, which consists of analyzing secondary data derived from industry reports, institutional documents, and scientific publications. Special attention was dedicated to the results of the report titled “Gen Boost. Youth Redefine Work”, which enabled an in-depth analysis of young employees' expectations toward contemporary organizations. The conducted analysis indicates that for representatives of Generation Z, flexible forms of work organization, opportunities for continuous professional development, maintaining a work-life balance, as well as functioning in a work environment based on partnership, transparency, and mutual respect are of paramount importance. Simultaneously, young workers face numerous challenges stemming from economic uncertainty, rising competition in the labor market, the dynamic advancement of technology, and the necessity of constantly upgrading professional qualifications.