Beyond Personality: Purpose as a Decision Logic in Employment Trade-Offs among Generation Z

Abstract

Purpose-driven work has lately become an increasingly important element of employment preferences, particularly among Generation Z. While prior research has primarily examined organisational purpose in relation to meaningful work, work attitudes, and individual characteristics, less is known about how purpose influences employment-related decision-making under trade-off conditions. This study addresses this gap by examining purpose orientation as a decision criterion shaping the acceptance of employment-related trade-offs.
The analysis is based on a questionnaire survey conducted among 797 Hungarian higher education students, with a focused subsample of 309 respondents who identified organisational purpose as an important factor in job choice. Using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, the study investigates whether purpose orientation is associated with MBTI personality characteristics and how it relates to willingness to accept different types of trade-offs.
The results indicate that personality-based characteristics provide limited explanatory value for purpose prioritisation in the present sample. By contrast, stronger purpose orientation is associated with a higher likelihood of accepting several employment-related trade-offs, including increased workload, reduced flexibility, lower bonuses, lower job stability, and lower salary. However, financial and security-related compromises remain relatively uncommon overall.
These findings suggest that purpose operates as a bounded and context-dependent motivational factor within employment-related decision-making rather than as an unconditional driver of sacrifice. By framing purpose orientation as a criterion within multi-attribute employment decisions, the study contributes to the literature on meaningful work and motivation and provides practical implications for organisations seeking to attract and retain Generation Z employees.