Gen Z wants to be ‘their own boss’ rather than work a 9-5

A new study has found that a majority of Gen Z would rather be their own boss, focusing on entrepreneurship or their own business, instead of working jobs like their parents before them.

The new survey comes from Santander UK and found that 77% of Gen Z respondents are prioritizing entrepreneurship with the goal of being “their own boss.”

The findings are being seen as a major shift in how the world’s youngest workforce views their long-term employment plans and opportunities. Instead of opting for established businesses, they now seem more likely to venture out on their own, according to the survey.

As for how they plan on running businesses, 39% of Gen Z respondents said they could pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations straight from their smartphones.

While the report does highlight the need for digital skills in entrepreneurship, it also shares that other skills are needed to be successful in any age group.

“Entrepreneurship is driven by passion, curiosity, and the desire to create something meaningful. Some develop these attributes early on, while others may discover a business drive later in life,” Mike Regnier, the CEO of Santander UK, said.

In comparison to other generations, just over a third of Gen X and Boomers said there were fewer chances to start their own businesses when they were younger because of the pressure they faced to pursue more traditional paths for secondary education and careers.

“Gen Z is proving to be the most entrepreneurial generation yet, and it’s no coincidence,” Sam Jones, Dragon’s Den star and founder of Gener8, said in the survey. “Unlike previous generations, they’ve grown up fully immersed in the digital age, where information, tools, and global connections are just a click away.”