Career Counseling for the Gig Economy: Preparing Gen Z for Non-Traditional Career Paths

Background. Rapid shifts in the global labor market driven by digitalization, platform-based work systems, and the expansion of non-standard employment have reconfigured conventional career pathways. Generation Z is increasingly oriented toward flexible employment forms such as freelancing, digital entrepreneurship, project-based work, and portfolio careers. These shifts raise questions about the adequacy of traditional career counseling models, which have largely been designed for linear, organization-based career trajectories.

Purpose. This study examines the extent to which career counseling contributes to enhancing Generation Z’s readiness for participation in gig economy employment and other non-traditional career pathways, with a focus on the development of career adaptability, digital competence, entrepreneurial readiness, and career self-efficacy.

Method. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 450 respondents using validated instruments measuring career adaptability, digital career competence, entrepreneurial readiness, career self-efficacy, and gig economy career preparedness. The quantitative data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically to enrich and explain the statistical findings.

Results. The findings indicate that career counseling has a significant positive effect on career adaptability, digital competence, entrepreneurial readiness, and career self-efficacy. These constructs collectively contribute to increased readiness for engagement in gig economy employment. Among the examined variables, career adaptability emerged as the most dominant predictor of non-traditional career preparedness. However, the results also suggest that counseling effectiveness may vary depending on the depth of exposure to digital and entrepreneurial guidance, indicating a potential limitation in conventional counseling models that remain overly labor-market traditional.

Conclusion. Career counseling plays a crucial role in preparing Generation Z for evolving labor market structures, particularly through strengthening adaptability and digital-entrepreneurial capacities. The findings suggest that career counseling frameworks need to move beyond conventional guidance models by integrating digital literacy, entrepreneurial education, and adaptive career management strategies to better align with the realities of fluid and technology-driven employment systems.