ItemArticle

Reimagining Career Growth for Gen Z and Millennials: Role of Career Lattices in Enhancing Employee Engagement

Title
Reimagining Career Growth for Gen Z and Millennials: Role of Career Lattices in Enhancing Employee Engagement
Creator
Joseph, Evangelina Rekha; Seshadri, Vinita; Kumar, Arti Arun; Thankachan, Jimmy
Description
Problem: Widespread disengagement among the working professionals and changing career expectations of Generation Z and Millennials pose a risk to talent management, retention, and performance in the IT sector. Solution: This quantitative study examines how employees perceived competence translates into engagement via multi-directional career development pathways (career lattice, career-goal progress, professional ability improvement, and promotion) using a survey of 304 IT professionals and PLS-SEM. Results show that employees who felt more competent reported higher engagement, and this relationship was strengthened when organisations provided career lattice pathways such as skill development, lateral mobility, and goal progress. Stakeholders: The findings identify actionable levers for organizational leaders, HRD practitioners, and talent managers to design adaptive career frameworks that increase engagement among Gen Z and Millennial employees. Implication: HRD leaders and talent managers should prioritise flexible, skills-based mobility and career-goal supports to boost Gen Z and Millennials engagement. The Author(s) 2026
Source
Advances in Developing Human Resources;Volume;28;Issue;2;pp.103-123
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
SAGE Publications Inc.
Subject
career development; career lattice; competence; employee engagement; Generation Z; Millennials; self-determination theory
Coverage
Joseph E.R., School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Seshadri V., School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Kumar A.A., School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Thankachan J., School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISSN: 15234223;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Joseph, Evangelina Rekha; Seshadri, Vinita; Kumar, Arti Arun; Thankachan, Jimmy, “Reimagining Career Growth for Gen Z and Millennials: Role of Career Lattices in Enhancing Employee Engagement,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23174.

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