Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™.

As mass layoffs hit various industries, Gen Zers—the youngest generation in the workforce—are growing tired of the traditional 9-to-5 workday.

The conventional workweek doesn’t appeal to this new subset of workers who have grown exhausted with the daily slog of corporate life.

Gen Z workers (the oldest of whom is turning 28 this year) feel stuck in their current positions and report feeling unfulfilled in their work. Nearly half of them are “coasting” on the job compared to previous generations, according to a CNBC study.

For many young workers, their search for meaning begins with quitting their corporate jobs and looking toward entrepreneurship.

Since 2023, the rate of adults starting businesses has risen.

In 2024, approximately 18% of business founders were from Gen Z, compared to 14.5% in 2023. Young people aren’t impressed with climbing the corporate ladder; rather, they are looking to be their boss.

Different forms of entrepreneurship have emerged. Entrepreneurship can involve owning a storefront, such as a bookstore or a restaurant. For others, it can look like participating in the creator economy by creating content online.

While being the boss of your own business has its perks, such as creative freedom and the ability to make your own schedule, which you most likely won’t experience in corporate America, it comes with its unique set of challenges, which push back against the notion that being an entrepreneur means you work less.

Being a business owner is often a 24/7 job, especially during the infancy of your business. However, for many young workers, that kind of sacrifice is worth it.

In the past, corporate jobs were often regarded as the job to have, mainly due to their stability. Workers received a steady paycheck and benefits and looked to either climb the corporate ladder or be content with their current status. That isn’t the case anymore.

As companies lay off workers, Gen Z has come to realize that they don’t need to adhere to conventional ways of working. They also don’t have to stick to the old-school values that affect these same corporate institutions. They can move out of a space that no longer serves them and create a successful business.

However, outside factors can bring unexpected challenges. Trump’s tariff war has upended both big and small businesses. As prices rise, consumers will restrict their spending, and business owners will struggle not only to buy materials overseas but also to retain their customer base.

Despite these issues, many business owners have prevailed. Most business owners have worked a traditional job before starting their own business, waiting until their business generates enough revenue to replace their full-time income.

As the younger generational workforce divests from the traditional work schedule, they could officially change the future of work. No longer would they have to follow in the footsteps of the previous generation and remain dissatisfied with their work.

The new generation can turn things around by rejecting burnout and focusing on their own happiness.