Gen Z workers don’t want to be the boss. Can you really blame them?

October 29, 2026 — 1:14pm

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For generations, there has been a well-worn path in workplaces. The unspoken rule was that everyone wanted to move up the ranks. You start in a junior role, perform it well, and soon you’d get noticed and move another notch up the career ladder.

The common trajectory sees you start managing another person, then a few more, maybe even a small team until eventually, you’re responsible for a group of employees. That’s the way that careers have traditionally progressed for a long time.

But something strange is happening in today’s workplaces, and fewer people seem to want to be the boss. Driven by a shift in how younger workers view their jobs, many of them are opting out of the traditional structures and have little desire to be managers. This trend is happening around the world and has even been nicknamed........

© The Age