Work Motivation for Generation Z: A Review

The domestic labor market faces a severe personnel shortage. Young people born in 2000-2010, often referred to as Generation Z, seem to require new work motivation tools. This review covered relevant research directions in this sphere. To build a theoretical model of work motivation, the authors used the PRISMA-2020 method and collected relevant publications that reported theoretical and empirical studies in Elsevier Open (Science Direct) and eLibrary (n = 11; 2021–2024). The empirical results were interpreted using V. I. Gerchikov’s typology to define prospective research directions. The analysis of theoretical publications made it possible to clarify the concepts of motivation and work motivation. Generation Z seems to prefer instrumental, professional, economic, patriotic, and avoidant types of motivation. V. I. Gerchikov’s typology proved relevant for Generation Z workers: if modified, it can be used to modernize the system of personnel motivation management with digital communications, corporate social responsibility, etc. Young people with low work motivation are often prone to professional burnout and can potentially become the so-called precarious youth. If the education system fails to perform its selective function, the search for competition and motivation tools goes to the real sector. This phenomenon will determine further research in this sphere.