What Singaporean Gen Z Workers Want - Deel 2026 Report

They've been called entitled, lazy, and restless. But when we asked young Singaporeans what they actually want from work, the answer was a lot simpler: pay that keeps up with living costs, flexibility over when and where they work, and a job they can leave at the office.

The What Gen Z Workers Want Report: Singapore surveys more than 1,000 Gen Z workers across the country. It challenges the myths about a generation that now accounts for around 13% of Singapore's 2.4 million-strong labour force, and shows employers where to focus to keep them.

Key findings

• Pay and flexibility come first: 72% of Singaporean Gen Z workers rank "pay that keeps up with living costs" in their top three job priorities, followed by flexibility (51%) and learning and career development (49%). Job security ranks fourth (46%)

• Stability is the 10-year goal: Financial security (71%) and owning a home (60%) top the list, and almost half (49%) want "a job I can leave at the office". Only 29% name leading a team as a goal

• Worry is almost universal: 92% have at least one major job-related concern, led by financial instability (49%) and burnout (46%)

• Gen Z is building their own security: 77% have or are seeking additional income, and 42% already hold a side hustle outside their main job

Why employers should be paying attention

Gen Z accounts for around 13% of Singapore's labour force, and residents under 30 have fallen from 18.8% of workers in 2014 to 14.6% in 2024. Employers are competing for a smaller pool of young talent, and one in five (21%) name working in another country as a 10-year goal. The impacts are clear:

• Compete on what matters most: Pay and flexibility outrank job security. Mission statements won't make up for gaps in either

• Rethink progression: Only 27% are giving everything to progress. Recognition and development that don't depend on promotion are likely to matter more

• Close the gender gap: Young women report more burnout (50% vs 43%) and are less likely to feel their opinions are valued (69% vs 80%)

• Put AI governance in place: 49% say AI makes them more productive, but 33% use it on personal devices and only 13% say their use is monitored

• Fix the admin basics: 71% have faced admin or payroll friction, including late pay (21%) and pay mistakes (15%)