Mass Layoffs Among Indonesian’s Gen Z Continues, What the Reasons?

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Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The trend of layoffs among Gen Z workers is not confined to Indonesia but is occurring in various countries worldwide. A career and education consulting platform Intelligent has revealed surprising data behind the reasons for the increasing layoffs of Gen Z employees. On its recent report around six out of ten companies surveyed reported terminating newly hired university graduates this year.

According to CNBC Indonesia, several reasons were cited for companies’ decisions to let go of Gen Z employees, including a lack of motivation, poor professionalism, and inadequate communication skills.

Here are some of the top reasons companies gave for firing Gen Z employees:

1. Lack of motivation or initiative – 50%
2. Lack of professionalism – 46%
3. Poor organizational skills – 42%
4. Poor communication skills – 39%
5. Difficulty accepting feedback – 38%
6. Lack of relevant work experience – 38%
7. Poor problem-solving skills – 34%
8. Inadequate technical skills – 31%
9. Cultural misfit – 31%
10. Difficulty working in teams – 30%

A lack of motivation has emerged as the primary reason behind the increasing layoffs of Generation Z employees. Other issues, such as a lack of professionalism and poor organizational skills, are also significant factors prompting companies to terminate contracts with younger workers.

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Lack of relevant work experience is another common reason for these layoffs. For many Gen Z workers, who are often recent graduates, this is an expected challenge. However, a strong willingness to learn should help address this gap.

“Many recent college graduates struggle to transition into the workforce for the first time because it can be vastly different from what they’re used to in school. They are often unprepared for a less structured environment, workplace dynamics, and independent job expectations,” said Huy Nguyen, head of educational advising and career development at Intelligent, in a statement cited by Euronews.

Hiring managers also reported that some Gen Z workers struggled to manage their workload, frequently arrived late, and failed to dress or communicate appropriately.

A separate report from April found that Gen Z workers were overly reliant on parental support during their job search. A survey by ResumeTemplates revealed that 70% of respondents admitted to asking their parents for help in the job search process. In fact, 25% brought their parents to job interviews, while many others had their parents send in job applications and write their resumes for them.

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Tips for Job-Seeking Graduates

To improve the chances of being hired, companies emphasize several key qualities they seek in new graduates, including initiative and a positive attitude.

The top traits employers look for in fresh graduates include:

1. Initiative
2. Positive attitude
3. Strong work ethic
4. Adaptability
5. Open to feedback
6. Punctuality and reliability
7. Solid technical skills
8. Good interpersonal skills
9. Internship experience
10. Prior work experience
11. Professional social media presence
12. Avoiding politics in the workplace

As the workforce continues to evolve, Gen Z workers may need to adjust their approach to align with the demands of modern employers.

(Raidi/Agung)