Most Gen Z Brits want to 'be their own boss' — but one expert says they'll face a reality check

Gen Z is progressively proving to beryllium the entrepreneurial generation, with the bulk wanting to acceptable up their ain concern — but 1 adept warns it mightiness not beryllium arsenic straightforward arsenic they think.

Some 75% of Gen Z — the procreation calved betwixt 1996 and 2012 ­­— person ambitions to "be their ain boss," and person nary intentions of moving a 9-to-5 occupation for the remainder of their career, a survey of 2,000 British adults by Santander UK found.

Additionally, 77% are assured astir their quality to motorboat and tally a palmy concern — and 39% accidental each they request is simply a smartphone to bash so.

In contrast, conscionable implicit a 3rd of Gen X and Boomers said determination were less opportunities to commencement their ain businesses erstwhile they were young due to the fact that of pressures to prosecute accepted acquisition and vocation paths. Gen X were calved betwixt 1965 and 1980, portion babe boomers were calved pursuing World War II, betwixt 1946 and 1964.

"Gen Z is proving to beryllium the astir entrepreneurial procreation yet, and it's nary coincidence," Sam Jones, Dragon's Den prima and laminitis of Gener8, said successful the survey. "Unlike erstwhile generations, they've grown up afloat immersed successful the integer age, wherever information, tools, and planetary connections are conscionable a click away."

This vulnerability has led to an innovation mindset, helium added. "They're not conscionable prepared to commencement their ain ventures – they're uniquely positioned to outpace erstwhile generations successful turning ideas into reality."

Gen Z's entrepreneurial spirit is well-documented and is driven by a tendency for autonomy and state — including much flexibility, a amended work-life balance, and having a intent — Dan Schawbel, a aboriginal of enactment adept and managing spouse astatine Workplace Intelligence, said.

In 1 viral TikTok video, Alexis Firment, a erstwhile teacher from Ohio, complained astir not being capable to permission enactment aboriginal adjacent if she had finished each of her tasks for the day. The video resonated with younger viewers and successful the comments immoderate lamented the struggles of "being treated similar a child" astatine work.

"Having grown up successful a integer property and witnessed economical instability, they're often disenchanted with the rigid operation and perceived limitations of accepted enactment arrangements," Schawbel told CNBC Make It.

"Instead, entrepreneurship appeals to Gen Z arsenic it offers much power implicit their enactment and life, opportunities for innovation, and the imaginable to leverage their technological skills. It besides provides a level to code societal oregon biology issues they attraction about, portion perchance offering greater fiscal rewards and independence," helium added.

Gen Z's cardinal spot is that they're integer natives and are speedy to follow caller technologies, compared with older generations, according to Schawbel.

"Their innate knowing of integer platforms, societal media, and emerging technologies allows them to navigate the online concern scenery with ease," helium said.

But helium pointed retired that portion Gen Z are tech savvy and smart, they whitethorn not beryllium afloat equipped to tally their ain businesses.

"Gen Z's readiness for the challenges of entrepreneurship is simply a mixed picture. While they person definite advantages similar integer savviness and innovative thinking, galore whitethorn underestimate the demands of moving a business," helium said.

"The agelong hours, fiscal insecurity, and changeless unit of maintaining profitability tin beryllium daunting realities that clash with their tendency for work-life balance."

While immoderate Gen Z entrepreneurs volition thrive, different volition look a "potential world check," arsenic concern demands clash with their manner preferences, Schawbel added.