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Born Freelancers: The Gen Z Workstyle

   ·  2 minute read

Companies across Europe are facing an uncomfortable truth: the traditional employment model no longer aligns with the expectations of the newest workforce generation. 

Gen Z is reshaping not only how people work, but why they work. They are mobile, independent, wellness-minded, and deeply selective about how they spend their time. And these preferences should be pushing businesses to rethink how they attract talent, structure work, and retain skilled professionals. 

Gen Z Values - Flexibility Over Tradition 

Research shows that Gen Z prioritizes autonomy, travel, and personal fulfilment at levels never seen in the workforce. They’re willing to change employers quickly if a role restricts movement or limits life outside work. 

They ask different questions than previous generations: 

  • Can I work from anywhere? 
  • Will this role allow me to explore and grow? 
  • Does this company support well-being, not just productivity? 

To them, work is a vehicle for lifestyle, not the other way around. 

Why Gen Z Gravitate Toward Freelance Work 

Several key factors drive Gen Z’s preference for flexible, independent work: 

  1. They want control of their time

Gen Z ranks work-life balance as a top priority. Freelancing provides the autonomy to choose when and how to work (and when not to). 

  1. They’remotivated by meaningful, impactful projects 

This generation wants purpose. They choose work that aligns with their values, interests, and identity, rather than staying salary or position focused. 

  1. They view skills, not job titles, as their career capital

Gen Z invests heavily in skills development, (online) certifications, and continuous learning. Freelance projects offer faster skill growth than traditional roles. 

  1. They are digitally native and globally minded

Born into an internet-connected world, Gen Z sees no boundaries between countries, markets, or opportunities. Remote freelance work is simply a natural extension of how they already live. 

 

What This Means for Companies 

The shift in worker expectations has direct implications for how businesses access, structure, and retain talent. 

  1. Top Gen Z talent won’t stay in rigid environments 

Businesses relying on long hiring cycles, fixed structures, or limited flexibility will struggle to attract younger talent (especially in competitive tech fields). 

  1. Companies need systems for integrating freelance work into their delivery model

The future workforce is a blend of employees and freelance specialists. High-performing organisations are already adapting their delivery structure to support this shift. 

  1. Talent access will increasingly be borderless

Gen Z expects work to be global. Companies that rely only on local hiring miss out on a generation that is already operating internationally. 

How GigsRemote Fits Into the Future Gen Z Workforce 

At GigsRemote, we’re already seeing Gen Z freelancers from Central & Eastern Europe excel in roles where autonomy, creativity, and remote collaboration are key. They bring: 

  • Strong digital fluency 
  • Knowledge utilising AI-enabled tools 
  • Faster learning curves 
  • Adaptability to different industries and project types 
  • A mindset aligned with modern, distributed engineering teams 

By connecting companies with vetted, senior freelance talent, we help businesses stay aligned with how work is evolving. 

Gen Z represents the future of work, and the future is already here.