Gender, Equity, and Gen Z, the most recent Handshake Network Trends report, covers the growing gender gap in the workforce, the perception of diversity among early job-seekers, and how salary is the great equalizer among Gen Z talent.

Report Summary

As women drop out of the workforce in unprecedented numbers during the pandemic, the ripple effect among young women may pose longstanding challenges as employers seek to build a diverse workforce. Will watching women leaders leave discourage college students and young professionals from applying?

This report examines the factors that compel Gen Z to apply for jobs, equipping employers to build diverse talent pipelines amidst a rapidly evolving job market.

Diversity Matters

Women and non-binary individuals are almost twice more likely than men to say that seeing women in leadership roles makes them likely to apply to a job:

...while twice as many men as women say they don’t look for gender diversity when applying for a job:

Gen Z is Sizing Up Your Diversity Record

53% of respondents agree or strongly agree that they would not apply to a job or internship where they find an employer lacks diversity.

We know that for Gen Z, good intentions are not enough. They want proof that prospective employers’ practices align with their values.

Lindsey Pollak, New York Times best-selling author.

Salary Transparency as Motivator

Students overwhelmingly chose "salary ranges in job postings" as the greatest motivator for applying to a position.

Get the Report

Review the full findings of our report to better support, engage, and recruit Gen Z job seekers.

Watch the Webinar

After you read the report, watch the webinar recording as Handshake's Christine Cruzvergara sits down with Christen Steele from Georgia Tech's College of Computing to discuss the findings and share key takeaways for both employers and colleges and universities.