This study investigates the impact of employment characteristics and core competencies of Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2005), who have grown up amid the proliferation of digital intelligence technologies—including the Internet, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and the Metaverse—on occupational choice satisfaction. Using both literature analysis and questionnaire surveys, occupational choice satisfaction was conceptualized in two dimensions: subjective alignment and objective gain. Core competencies were defined across five factors: innovative capability, digital operational competence, technical proficiency, relational flexibility, and behavioral adaptiveness. The findings reveal that innovative capability and digital operational competence have statistically significant positive effects on occupational choice satisfaction. This suggests that Generation Z values the ability to enhance organizational performance through novel ideas and technologies, as well as confidence in utilizing digital tools, as critical determinants of job satisfaction. These results provide practical implications for corporate human resource strategies, emphasizing the need for recruitment and talent management approaches tailored to Generation Z. From a policy perspective, they highlight the importance of multidimensional measures such as reforming vocational education, implementing youth-targeted employment support, and restructuring labor market frameworks. This research offers foundational insights into the occupational values and behavioral patterns of Generation Z, contributing to proactive strategies for future labor market transformation.
This study investigates the impact of employment characteristics and core competencies of Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2005), who have grown up amid the proliferation of digital intelligence technologies—including the Internet, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and the Metaverse—on occupational choice satisfaction. Using both literature analysis and questionnaire surveys, occupational choice satisfaction was conceptualized in two dimensions: subjective alignment and objective gain. Core competencies were defined across five factors: innovative capability, digital operational competence, technical proficiency, relational flexibility, and behavioral adaptiveness. The findings reveal that innovative capability and digital operational competence have statistically significant positive effects on occupational choice satisfaction. This suggests that Generation Z values the ability to enhance organizational performance through novel ideas and technologies, as well as confidence in utilizing digital tools, as critical determinants of job satisfaction. These results provide practical implications for corporate human resource strategies, emphasizing the need for recruitment and talent management approaches tailored to Generation Z. From a policy perspective, they highlight the importance of multidimensional measures such as reforming vocational education, implementing youth-targeted employment support, and restructuring labor market frameworks. This research offers foundational insights into the occupational values and behavioral patterns of Generation Z, contributing to proactive strategies for future labor market transformation.