Millennials are more likely than Gen Z to turn down a job offer if a company’s ethics and sustainability credentials do not align with their personal values, according to a new global report from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
The annual Prospective Students Survey by GMAC—now in its 15th year—found that 27% of millennial respondents strongly agreed that a company’s ethical and sustainability practices would influence their decision to accept a job offer, compared to just 19% of Gen Z candidates.
In total, more than two-thirds (68%) of all prospective business school students surveyed said that corporate ethics and environmental performance would factor into their decision-making when considering employment offers.
“It’s often assumed that Gen Z leads the charge on social values, but our findings suggest a more complex picture,” said Nalisha Patel, Regional Director for the Americas and Europe at GMAC. “Millennials are actually more willing to walk away from job offers that don’t align with their ethics. It’s a clear reminder for companies that strong ethics and sustainability practices aren’t just nice to have – they’re essential if they want to attract and retain value-driven talent.”
The GMAC survey, which included responses from 4,912 prospective students across 147 countries, offers a detailed insight into the evolving motivations of the next generation of business leaders.
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