Gen Z is avoiding university—but it could be the key to landing a hybrid job

Hybrid work has undoubtedly become the norm since the pandemic. It’s seen as a middle ground between harsh return-to-office mandates and the full flexibility of being remote, making it the most popular arrangement among workers. 

But, getting a hybrid role can depend on various factors. 

One way to boost your chances of securing a hybrid job is by getting a degree. The Office of National Statistics found that a degree could mean a candidate qualifies for more jobs that allow remote or hybrid work, increasing their chances 10-fold. 

That’s probably why the proportion of hybrid workers in the IT and professional, scientific, and technical fields far outstrips those in manufacturing or entertainment.  

Meanwhile, those without high-level qualifications are more likely to land jobs in industries that require in-person presence, such as retail or hospitality.

Gen Z’s approach to employment

This could change how Gen Z thinks about the future of work, given that the generation has earned a reputation for shunning traditional work norms—whether that’s the 9-to-5 day or the staple five-day in-office lifestyle. 

More recently, they’re also rethinking the importance of a university degree to get a job, given the high cost of education. Instead, the younger generation is looking for ways to avoid being burdened with years of debt while finding an efficient path to a full-time job. 

It’s true that Gen Z is dealing with a harsher economy that requires them to juggle side hustles and take a left-field approach to employment. In the U.S., that has prompted this generation to turn to traditional trades, such as carpentry and landscaping. While in Britain, the ratcheting up of university tuition is forcing some degree-seekers to look at alternatives like apprenticeships.  

Billionaire Richard Branson recently advocated for getting “out there into the real world” rather than spending a fortune on a college education, especially for non-technical jobs and if people want to run their businesses.  

Given that the trend of shunning degrees is still nascent, it may evolve as more young adults come to terms with the state of the job market and the price to pay for high-level education. 

However, hybrid working isn’t going anywhere. And if the next wave of workers wants to cash in on it, a degree could be instrumental.

Hybrid working in the population

The flexibility of hybrid work promises a better lifestyle, including 24 extra minutes of sleep and 15 minutes more exercise a day compared to the commuters, ONS found.

Even though the setup is popular among the working population, it’s more common among those aged 30 years and above, rather than their younger counterparts who are likely early in their careers. 

Parents—specifically male—and managerial or executive-level officials are much more likely to be hybrid workers.

There are many takers of a hybrid work arrangement, but companies’ approaches to workplace arrangements have shifted dramatically. Take Amazon, for example. It’s demanding that its staff come to the office five days a week after instituting a three-days-a-week hybrid policy last year to build culture and innovation. 

The move has raised eyebrows as a form of “backdoor layoff,” given that many company employees are considering quitting following the expanded RTO mandate.

The question about hybrid work for companies, whether it goes one way or another, is whether it could improve employees’ output. Despite the seeming clampdown, there’s still a big market for hybrid arrangements—and it might be the best way to balance what employees and companies want.