Work Readiness Determinants Among Generation Z: Soft Skills and Self-Efficacy Effects in Suburban Indonesia

Abstract

The global labor market increasingly demands comprehensive competencies beyond academic credentials, particularly affecting Generation Z transitioning from education to employment. Despite growing research attention, empirical findings regarding work readiness determinants remain inconsistent, with limited evidence from suburban emerging economy contexts where structural employment opportunities differ substantially from urban centers. This study examines the effects of work motivation, soft skills, and self-efficacy on work readiness among Generation Z. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, collecting primary data from 100 Generation Z individuals (aged 18–28 years) in Parung Panjang, Kabupaten Bogor, Indonesia, analyzed using multiple linear regression. The findings reveal that soft skills and self-efficacy significantly and positively influence work readiness, with self-efficacy emerging as the dominant predictor explaining approximately 67.8% of variance. Contrary to expectations, work motivation demonstrates no significant direct effect. These results suggest that psychological confidence and non-technical competency development constitute more critical determinants than motivational states alone, informing targeted interventions emphasizing self-efficacy enhancement and soft skill cultivation for improving Generation Z employability in suburban emerging economy contexts.