Workers are getting laid off faster than ever and it’s taking a toll on them in more ways than one. The problem has gotten to the point where employees are now planning to quit their jobs of their own volition and start their own businesses instead. A new survey explored Millennial and Gen Z workplace trends, and it found that over 79% of respondents want to leave their jobs and launch their own businesses.
Do we have another Great Resignation revolution on our hands? It is too soon to tell and we don’t have enough data to show how many people have actually committed to the switch, however, the threat of the trend should be taken seriously. While employee attrition has been relatively lower over the last months giving employers the ultimate bargaining power, it is very possible that the tides will turn quickly, leaving organizations understaffed and fresh out of top talent in a heartbeat.
Employees aren’t quitting their jobs just yet, but there is a growing desire among them to become more independent. (Image: Pexels)
Employees Quitting Jobs to Start Their Own Businesses Could Spell Trouble for Employers
A recent survey by gig work discovery platform Sidehustles.com gave us some insightful information about the work trends coming up in 2025. The survey polled 1,004 US workers and found that 79% of respondents were hoping to quit their jobs and leave the traditional workplace behind to start their own businesses. The survey also revealed that 12% of these hopeful workers wanted to make the jump within the next year, while 20% were willing to give their workplace another 3-5 years before shifting to becoming full-time entrepreneurs.
A generational difference was also observed in the study. The desire to quit jobs and start businesses was highest among Gen Z workers, landing at 85%. Millennials and Gen Xers followed closely behind at 79% and 78% respectively, with Boomers standing at 66%. The numbers show that while Gen Z was closest to handing in their resignations in 2025, the desire to work independently was high across the generations.
Why Does Gen Z Want to Quit Jobs and Start Their Own Business?
No, the answer is not laziness. Gen Zers and these other workers who want to leave their jobs don’t just want to sit back and relax in luxury but instead want more control over the circumstances of their work. In 2025, it’s no secret that employees are losing all of their bargaining power and are being forced to work the way their employers deem fit—whether it’s through RTO policies or the loss of benefits.
The main reason why employees are thinking of quitting their jobs is to find better pay, which is a reasonable pursuit. Recently, employers expressed a desire to start hiring workers without college degrees, and while the change is largely a good thing, one of the main motivators for the change was to offer lower pay.
This Gen Z workplace trend is also being fueled by the desire for more flexibility at work, which is something this particular segment has always prioritized in their prospective jobs.
Should Employers Be Worried About Employees Quitting Their Job?
The answer is a resounding yes. There is always cause to worry about a potential migration of workers out of the workforce, especially if it could mean a shortage of hands during times when companies are really struggling with managing their businesses with the economic climate shifting unsteadily underfoot. Now, the results of the survey are only speculative—it tells us that employees are thinking of quitting their jobs and not that employees have started quitting already.
At the end of the day, it is more likely that the large majority of workers will stay at their jobs for the next few years, because it is never easy to start a business from the ground up, especially not with the market conditions we have today. Despite that, as more citizens choose to remain childfree and money-driven, more workers may become risk-takers who take the plunge and branch out on their own after building some experience at their respective jobs.
Gen Zers Are Always Willing to Take Risks
The Gen Z population has always been entrepreneurial, with many of them running their own side businesses right from high school or moonlighting at other jobs to keep their finances up. Many of them have already begun skipping college degrees to turn to blue-collar jobs instead, approaching the switch with a matter-of-fact attitude that is admirable. From running Etsy stores for handmade earrings to monetizing their TikTok accounts, Gen Zers and young Millennials have grown up running small businesses of their own.
It is quite possible that many of these workers, after being constantly ridiculed and ostracized at their formal workplaces, will choose to work independently or establish their own businesses where they can call the shots.
At the very least, the survey shows that employees are not satisfied with their current jobs and are actively thinking about moving on to better opportunities. This is a worrisome situation for HR all on its own. If employers are not careful, they could see their employees give up and walk out in the coming months, or workers might passively work until they find another opportunity. Employee engagement cannot be ignored in 2025.
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