{
  "id": 180784,
  "title": "Forget work-life balance: Gen Z say their top priority is actually career growth, with 93% aspiring for the C-suite",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/forget-work-life-balance-gen-z-say-their-top-priority-is-actually",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-05T15:09:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/05/gen-z-wants-career-growth-over-work-life-balance-salary-aspiring-for-c-suite-jobs-in-ai-era-kpmg-intern-survey/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gen Z, entering the workforce amid AI advancements, prioritize career growth over work-life balance or salary. A KPMG survey of 900 summer interns revealed 93% aspire to reach the C-suite. Derek Thomas, KPMG's national partner-in-charge of university talent acquisition, warns that leaning on AI for thinking alone may hinder the development of critical human skills. Despite work-life balance remaining a priority for many, Gen Z's ambitions focus on climbing corporate ladders. KPMG partners in the UK earned £880,000 ($1.2 million) in fiscal year 2025, while S&P 500 CEOs averaged $18.9 million in 2024. Critical thinking ranks as the most sought-after skill to distinguish entry-level employees, with 76% believing long-term success demands both human skills and AI proficiency. However, Gen Z worries that overreliance on AI could weaken critical thinking. Business leaders like Daniel Lubetzky, Jamie Dimon, and Andy Jassy emphasize the importance of human skills, advising Gen Z to lean into their creativity, critical thinking, and communication abilities to stay ahead in the AI era.",
  "summary": "Career growth is a higher priority for Gen Z than work-life balance, workplace culture, and even salary, according to a KPMG survey of interns.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}