'Conscious unbossing': Why most Gen Z employees don't want managerial roles

Radwa Al Amin, a 25-year-old marketing specialist in Dubai, thrives as a contributor and is content with her career. She enjoys giving her best to her current job and has no desire to climb the corporate ladder. Instead, she focuses her spare time on her hustle—running an online boutique.

“Being a manager just means more responsibility and less time for my projects,” she explained.

Radwa is part of a growing trend among younger employees whose changing views on leadership and responsibility reshape the workplace.

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A recent study by recruitment firm Robert Walters revealed that 72 per cent of Gen Z workers prefer advancing in individual contributor roles rather than stepping into the often stressful world of middle management.

This trend, dubbed ‘conscious unbossing’, reflects a generation that values personal fulfilment over traditional corporate hierarchies.

For many, it’s not a lack of ambition, but a desire to succeed on their own terms. Many young Gen Z professionals are acutely aware of the pressures that come with management roles.

"I love what I do, and I want to cultivate my own brand without the added stress of managing a team," Radwa said.

For her, success lies in balancing her career goals with her entrepreneurial ambitions, illustrating the 'conscious unbossing' trend among her peers.

However, not all Gen Z professionals share the same outlook on management. For 26-year-old Ahmed, the idea of moving into a managerial position carries a different set of concerns. “I think being a manager would be unhealthy for my mental health,” he admitted.

Ahmed's concerns reflect a broader trend among Gen Z. The study also found that 69 per cent of Gen Z respondents believe middle management roles come with too much stress and too little reward.

“There’s a lot of pressure, and I feel like I’m too young to take on that kind of responsibility," the Abu Dhabi resident added. He also worries that by the time he reaches an age where he could be considered for a management role, he might still prefer focusing on his own career path rather than leading others.

This shift in priorities is further supported by a global study done by Capterra earlier this year, which found that a staggering 75 per cent of millennial managers report feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and burned out. This statistic has likely contributed to Gen Z’s reluctance to pursue management positions, as they observe the toll leadership can take on one's mental and emotional well-being.

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