Anak, bakit ka na naman lilipat ng trabaho?
Ma, gusto ko lang matuto ng bago. Ayoko ma-stuck.
If that sounds like a familiar conversation in your home, you’re not alone. Across the Philippines, many parents are navigating unfamiliar territory—when children quit jobs more often than they once did. It’s a shift that feels uncomfortable for older generations who equated loyalty with longevity, and stability with success.
But before we assume the worst, maybe it’s time we looked a little deeper.
Why Gen Z Is Rethinking Work
As of November 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported a strong employment rate of 96.8%—a signal that jobs are available. And yet, more and more parents are left wondering: Why do our children keep leaving them?
For many Gen Z workers (born mid-1990s to early 2010s), it’s not about being fickle. According to a study by the Department of Labor and Employment’s Institute for Labor Studies, young Filipinos are prioritizing mental health, flexibility, and personal alignment over simply “sticking it out.”
They’re not quitting because they don’t care. They’re quitting because they do—about purpose, about growth, and about protecting their energy.
Work Is Changing—And They Know It
There’s a powerful TEDx talk by workplace researcher Amanda Schneider titled: “Work Is Broken. Gen Z Can Help Fix It.” In it, she poses a provocative question:
Would you rather stay in the same job for the rest of your life, or change jobs every year until retirement?
Most Gen Z workers chose the latter.
To some parents, when children quit jobs quickly, it may look like a lack of direction. But what if it’s a sign of self-awareness instead?
Three Lessons Filipino Families Can Learn from Gen Z
1. Hybrid Work Isn’t a Perk—It’s the Norm
While many older workers scrambled to adapt to remote work, Gen Z entered the workforce expecting it. One fresh grad put it this way:
“This isn’t hard. This is just how we work.”
In Quezon City, a local tech firm found that 80% of its workforce preferred a hybrid setup—not just for comfort, but for productivity and balance. That tells us something: this isn’t a phase. It’s a preference grounded in performance.
2. They Want Radical Clarity
Raised on Google reviews, instant messaging, and open forums, Gen Z expects transparency. From salary bands to promotion paths, they want to understand the full picture.
At companies like Penbrothers, which employs a large Gen Z workforce in the Philippines, communication is built into the work culture. It’s not just about what to do, but why it matters.
That clarity builds trust—and keeps them engaged.
3. They Want to Be Heard, Not Just Hired
When children quit jobs, it’s often because they don’t feel seen or valued. More than stability, they crave significance.
At KMC Solutions, a leading BPO and workspace provider, success has come not just from client contracts, but from creating open spaces—literally and figuratively—where younger employees can contribute ideas and shape culture.
Globally, brands like Gucci are taking this further, inviting young staff into decision-making. The result? A 136% sales boost. Coincidence? Maybe not.
What Parents Can Do When Children Quit Jobs Often
Rather than seeing resignation letters as red flags, Filipino families can choose to see them as conversation starters.
Here’s a shift:
Instead of asking, “Bakit ka na naman aalis?”
Try: “Anak, ano’ng natutunan mo doon?”
We can guide without judgment. We can listen, offer perspective, and share our own hard-won wisdom—without assuming their path should look like ours.
Because success today isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, it looks like changing jobs three times in two years. Other times, it looks like staying put because the company finally got it right.
This Isn’t Just a Trend—It’s a Transformation
Amanda Schneider’s workplace insights began when she left her job to create a more flexible setup as a working mom. Over time, that model evolved—serving young professionals, retirees, and remote freelancers alike.
The values she built into that structure—flexibility, transparency, respect—are the same values Gen Z is demanding.
So when children quit jobs, they’re not breaking the system. They might be reshaping it for the better.
Let’s give them the space to grow, the respect to be heard, and the guidance only experience can offer.
Because in the end, the goal isn’t just to stay in one job forever—it’s to build a life worth working for.
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