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Why Do Gen Z Choose Teaching as Careers? Exploring Extrinsic Motivations of Gen Z to Become Teacher in Indonesia

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Title: Why Do Gen Z Choose Teaching as Careers? Exploring Extrinsic Motivations of Gen Z to Become Teacher in Indonesia
Language: English
Authors: Suyatno (ORCID 0000-0002-5796-6100), Lilis Patimah (ORCID 0000-0001-7762-3861), Wantini (ORCID 0000-0003-2896-0559), Ika Maryani (ORCID 0000-0002-7154-2902), Enung Hasanah (ORCID 0000-0003-4899-7789), Mhd. Lailan Arqam (ORCID 0009-0000-3332-7702), M. Fadlillah (ORCID 0000-0002-5747-5491)
Source: Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn). 2026 20(1):37-47.
Availability: Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. C5 Plumbon, Banguntapan, Yogyakarta, 55198, Indonesia. e-mail: edulearn@uad.ac.id; Web site: http://edulearn.intelektual.org/index.php/EduLearn/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Teaching (Occupation), Career Choice, Generational Differences, Student Motivation, Elementary School Teachers, Preservice Teachers, Teacher Education Programs, Student Attitudes, Student Characteristics, Age Groups
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
ISSN: 2089-9823
2302-9277
Abstract: The decision to become teacher is greatly influenced by certain motivations such as altruistic, intrinsic, and extrinsic. Examining these motivations influencing individuals' decisions to become teachers is essential for sustainable professional development. This is because no previous publication has focused on Generation Z's (Gen Z) extrinsic motivations to pursue teaching profession. Therefore, this study aimed to explore motivations of Gen Z to become teachers in elementary schools. A qualitative analysis was adopted with a focus group discussion method including 58 pre-service teachers learning at the primary school teacher education program. Furthermore, the participants in the analysis were aged 18-22 years and also fell into the Gen Z category. Data obtained from the participants was further analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that extrinsic motivations underlying the desire of Gen Z to become teachers originated from the high social respect teaching receives from society, the promise of prosperity, and adequate employment opportunities. Extrinsic motivations also originated from childhood experiences inspired by religious teachings and the parents. The study further emphasized the importance of understanding the participants' motivations for entering teaching profession to improve recruitment systems, providing motivation, set hours and workloads, as well as welfare systems for Gen Z teachers.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495282
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Why Do Gen Z Choose Teaching as Careers? Exploring Extrinsic Motivations of Gen Z to Become Teacher in Indonesia
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suyatno%22">Suyatno</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5796-6100">0000-0002-5796-6100</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lilis+Patimah%22">Lilis Patimah</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7762-3861">0000-0001-7762-3861</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wantini%22">Wantini</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2896-0559">0000-0003-2896-0559</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ika+Maryani%22">Ika Maryani</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7154-2902">0000-0002-7154-2902</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Enung+Hasanah%22">Enung Hasanah</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4899-7789">0000-0003-4899-7789</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mhd%2E+Lailan+Arqam%22">Mhd. Lailan Arqam</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3332-7702">0009-0000-3332-7702</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22M%2E+Fadlillah%22">M. Fadlillah</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5747-5491">0000-0002-5747-5491</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Education+and+Learning+%28EduLearn%29%22"><i>Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn)</i></searchLink>. 2026 20(1):37-47.
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  Data: Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. C5 Plumbon, Banguntapan, Yogyakarta, 55198, Indonesia. e-mail: edulearn@uad.ac.id; Web site: http://edulearn.intelektual.org/index.php/EduLearn/
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 11
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+%28Occupation%29%22">Teaching (Occupation)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generational+Differences%22">Generational Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Teachers%22">Elementary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservice+Teachers%22">Preservice Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Education+Programs%22">Teacher Education Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Groups%22">Age Groups</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indonesia%22">Indonesia</searchLink>
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  Data: 2089-9823<br />2302-9277
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The decision to become teacher is greatly influenced by certain motivations such as altruistic, intrinsic, and extrinsic. Examining these motivations influencing individuals' decisions to become teachers is essential for sustainable professional development. This is because no previous publication has focused on Generation Z's (Gen Z) extrinsic motivations to pursue teaching profession. Therefore, this study aimed to explore motivations of Gen Z to become teachers in elementary schools. A qualitative analysis was adopted with a focus group discussion method including 58 pre-service teachers learning at the primary school teacher education program. Furthermore, the participants in the analysis were aged 18-22 years and also fell into the Gen Z category. Data obtained from the participants was further analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that extrinsic motivations underlying the desire of Gen Z to become teachers originated from the high social respect teaching receives from society, the promise of prosperity, and adequate employment opportunities. Extrinsic motivations also originated from childhood experiences inspired by religious teachings and the parents. The study further emphasized the importance of understanding the participants' motivations for entering teaching profession to improve recruitment systems, providing motivation, set hours and workloads, as well as welfare systems for Gen Z teachers.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495282
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 37
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching (Occupation)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Generational Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preservice Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Education Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Age Groups
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      – SubjectFull: Indonesia
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      – TitleFull: Why Do Gen Z Choose Teaching as Careers? Exploring Extrinsic Motivations of Gen Z to Become Teacher in Indonesia
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