Survey: Gen Z interns believe 20% of their full-time jobs will be automated

A new survey from KPMG reveals that half of Generation Z interns expect 20% of their jobs to be automated by artificial intelligence when they start full-time roles, but 92% say there’re confident in their ability to adapt to AI advancements in their fields. 

“While headlines focus on fears of workers being replaced by AI, Gen Z talent joining the workforce in the coming years is challenging a deeper assumption that employers can deprioritize workforce well-being and long-term growth in their rush to maximize new technology benefits without facing consequences,” Derek Thomas, national partner-in-charge of university talent acquisition at KPMG U.S, said in a statement. “Instead, this talent is embracing AI as a tool and seeking stability, meaningful relationships, and sustained career development from their employers. Organizations that recognize and support these values will be best-positioned to attract and retain top talent from this next generation.” 

Last month, KPMG surveyed 1,117 of its U.S. interns across the firm’s tax, audit, advisory, and business process group functions to better understand their perspectives on career development, AI adoption, workplace culture, learning preferences, and long-term career goals. 

One of the things the survey found was that Gen Z are more experimental with AI than their older colleagues, and many use generative AI a lot in their day-to-day life. 

“Gen Z is making AI work for them,” Thomas said. “While other generations are still debating whether to use it, Gen Z is exploring new and creative ways to utilize AI for increased efficiency in their daily lives and enhance their performance at work.” 

Specifically, the survey of KPMG interns found that: 

• 60% believe they’re more experimental with AI tools compared to older generations, willing to try AI for everything from school to personal projects. 

• 89% use GenAI frequently (at least once or twice per week) in their day-to-day right now (both personally and professionally). 

• 57% believe technical skills specific to their roles are the most valuable skill development opportunity for their careers. 

Their top concern about AI usage is over-reliance (not wanting to become too dependent on AI for thinking or creating), followed by misinformation/bias concerns. 

Only 8% say their university is very supportive in allowing and encouraging AI tool use (least chosen response), while 52% report their universities take a balanced approach to AI, allowing use of GenAI research tools while implementing guidelines to ensure it complements rather than replaces critical thinking and creativity. 

Another key finding from the survey: 47% of Gen Z interns want to eliminate traditional 9-to-5 work schedules. In addition, work-life balance tops salary concerns when it comes to considering a full-time job opportunity. 

“Great careers with real balance: this generation wants careers that fuel their ambitions without burning them out,” Thomas said. “Gen Z brings their whole self to work and expects their employers to support every part of that equation. It’s about building a fulfilling life, not just a successful career.” 

Additional findings include: 

• Many look to eliminate the lack of emphasis on mental health and well-being in the workplace, as well as mandatory video-on for virtual communication. 

• The biggest challenge in navigating workplace expectations is feeling unsure about when it’s appropriate to take breaks and step away from desks. 

• When thinking about their digital presence at work, they’re making their work-life balance desires known, feeling least concerned about what’s appropriate to post or share on social media platforms or about managing visibility and responsiveness (e.g., staying “active” on messaging platforms). 

• When asked about wellness benefits when considering a future employer, financial wellness benefits are the most important, followed by flexible wellness benefits and family wellness benefits. 

• In terms of fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, team members respecting different perspectives is most important, followed by a culture that accommodates different working styles and personalities. 

• When asked about what types of social media influencers they follow the most, lifestyle and wellness influencers are the most followed, while career and professional development influencers are among the least followed. 

Despite being digital natives, Gen Z prefers face-to-face mentoring and hands-on learning over AI-powered training methods, interns said. 

“Here’s the irony: the most digitally connected generation in history knows that real career magic happens face-to-face. They want mentors, not just managers—and they are learning by experiencing and observing in-person interactions,” Thomas said. 

Other findings include: 

• Interns found in-person office interactions are most useful for building professional relationships during their internships. 

• Gen Z hope to gain a mentoring relationship with their manager during their internship. 

• Observing how colleagues and managers interact in-office helps interns feel most confident navigating workplace expectations. 

• Interns were most likely to say they made five or more genuine friends with fellow interns this summer. 

• When building these friendships with other interns, in-person conversations at the office are most valuable, followed by shared breaks or meals with colleagues and networking events organized by the firm. 

• The most challenging aspect of digital workplace presence identified by the respondents: deciding how much personality to show in virtual spaces. 

• Interns specified that hands-on practice projects are the preferred way to learn new information at work, followed by peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and in-person training sessions. 

• Notably, short-form videos and AI-powered adaptive learning are among the least preferred ways to learn new information at work, according to interns. 

In addition, the KPMG survey found that Gen Z interns crave long-term job stability amid job market uncertainty. 

Specifically, the survey found that: 

• While 59% expect to build expertise and climb the ladder at just one or two companies over their careers, 27% prioritize following what gives them the greatest sense of purpose over traditional career paths. 

• In addition, 35% plan to stay in one field but may change roles throughout their lifetime. 

• Of the common popular perceptions of Gen Z, the top one interns would like to see eliminated is that they’re “lazy/unmotivated,” selected among close to half of interns (47%). 

“Gen Z wants to go deep, not wide,” Thomas said. “They’re looking for employers who invest in their growth, offer purpose-driven work, and provide the stability to build meaningful careers over time.”