Ground Floor, Mirror, and Puzzle Piece: Salary Sensemaking Among Indonesian Gen Z
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Abstract
This study explores how Indonesian Generation Z (Gen Z) perceives salary as they prepare to enter the workforce. While prior research has often treated salary as either a priority or secondary factor in job selection, this study focuses on how salary is conceptually constructed by young individuals with limited but formative work experience. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 32 Gen Z respondents who had completed internships or part-time jobs but had not entered full-time employment. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching perceptions: (1) salary as the ground floor—a basic threshold to meet living needs; (2) salary as a mirror—reflecting job demands, one's skills and contributions; and (3) salary as one piece—part of a larger set of factors including work-life balance, career development, and organizational culture. These findings offer a more nuanced, context-sensitive view of salary as both a material necessity and symbolic construct.
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