"Let's Leave While Young" 90s Generation Quits Jobs, Baby Boomers Return to Work [World is Z Gold]

Generation Z Quits Jobs to Travel
Work-Life Balance Takes Priority for Generation Z
Concerns Rise Over "Repeated Income Gaps Disrupting Retirement Plans"

Editor's NoteGeneration Z (born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) is gaining attention as a generation that leads culture and trends in a rapidly changing era, setting new standards across society. In [The World is Z Gold], we aim to shed light on the lives and values of Generation Z worldwide and explore how they are transforming society.

Recently, the 'micro' retirement trend has been gaining popularity among Generation Z in the United States (born from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s). It refers to quitting work midway through a career to take sufficient rest and then returning to the workforce. Unlike older generations who valued loyalty to their workplace and the concept of a 'lifetime job,' Generation Z reflects values emphasizing work-life balance and self-development.

"Leave While You're Young"... Reasons Why Generation Z Resigns

Generation Z has created a new concept called 'micro retirement.' Recently, Fox News in the U.S. focused on Generation Z's micro retirement, explaining it as "taking breaks from work while young to enjoy leisure. Unlike the past, when all leisure plans were postponed until after retirement, this involves repeatedly taking short 'mini retirements' during one's working years." It is characterized by taking time off through resignation or leave to recharge, often immersing oneself in travel, self-development, or hobbies for as long as one to two years.

The micro retirement trend also frequently appears on TikTok, a short-form video platform popular among Generation Z. Adama Rowna, a TikToker in her 20s with over 36,000 followers, left a message in her video recommending "leaving while you have youth and energy rather than waiting until you are 60 or 70 to travel the world." Another TikToker, Anais Felt, said, "It has been six months since I retired from my company," adding, "I have never felt this good or been this healthy." Notably, Felt decided to retire only after saving enough money and fully repaying $70,000 (about 103.5 million KRW) in student loans before entering micro retirement.

TikToker Adama Rowena talks about the 'micro-retirement' trend. Screenshot from TikTok

The micro retirement trend is interpreted as reflecting Generation Z's different views on work compared to older generations. Instead of staying at one company for life, Generation Z tends to freely decide on job changes and resignations according to their life and values. Guy Thornton, founder of the recruitment support platform 'Practice Aptitude Test,' explained in an interview with Forbes, "Young generations prioritize mental health, personal achievements, and meaningful experiences more than long careers and promotions."

He also emphasized that social networking services (SNS) played a crucial role in spreading this trend. Thornton said, "SNS has increased the desire not to miss out on special moments that come and go," adding, "There is a stronger movement to travel, enjoy hobbies, and immerse oneself in desired activities while young and healthy."

However, there are also concerns about this trend. Frequent resignations by Generation Z may cause disadvantages in the job market, and excessive spending on travel without sufficient financial planning could increase debt. Additionally, repeated income gaps may disrupt preparations for old age.

Financial Burdens Lead Baby Boomers Back to Work

The baby boomer generation returning to the labor market after postponing retirement continues to grow. Pixabay

While Generation Z opts for micro retirement, the Baby Boomer generation is abandoning retirement plans and returning to the labor market. The main reasons are financial pressures from rising living costs and loan repayments. Shana Milford, head of HR for the U.S. at the UK-based Iris Software Group, stated, "13% of retirees plan to return to work this year, with the main reasons being rising living costs (69%) and burdens from housing costs and student loans (34%)."

Milford explained that Baby Boomers' return could positively impact companies. She said, "This generation possesses extensive experience and vast organizational knowledge, adapts quickly to work, and plays an important role in training and mentoring new employees." She added that in some industries, such as accounting and finance, which face labor shortages due to aging populations, the return of retirees is especially urgent.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, the 'Gap Year' culture, which involves taking a break from work, is spreading. Originally, a Gap Year refers to young people in Europe and the U.S. taking time before entering university or starting a job to backpack, intern, and explore how to spend their lives ahead. It is often used not just for rest but for self-exploration and career building. Unlike Gap Year, which is mainly used as preparation for future careers, micro retirement focuses on improving the quality of life and satisfaction in the present.