Nearly nine in 10 Gen Z workers say they do not want to manage other people, according to new research from Robert Walters.
The figure has risen from 72% in 2024, with more than half of respondents saying they would rather progress as specialists in their chosen field.
Half said they do not want to take on management to progress, while 27% said they were determined to avoid it altogether.
“Management has an image problem, and organisations have a critical role to play in rebranding it.”
Lucy Bisset, Senior Director – North of England, Robert Walters
Robert Walters said many organisations have introduced specialist career tracks to retain technical talent, but this could leave management skills gaps elsewhere.
When professionals of all ages were asked about their view of management, just 14% believed it was valued equally across generations. The research also found that 80% of employers see middle managers as crucial to their organisation.
