05-15-2025
Deputy (a workforce management platform) released an annual report entitled “The Big Shift: How Gen Z is Rewriting the Rules of Hourly Work.” In that report, Deputy looks at the micro-shift trend. Micro-shifts are “short, flexible shifts” (six hours or less) that balance the needs of both the employee and workplace. With many people needing multiple jobs to earn sufficient income, these shorter shifts help maintain stability and allow workers to manage other responsibilities. Deputy’s CEO says, “Micro-shifts aren’t about working less—they’re about working smarter.” Businesses that embrace this shift will “have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent.”
Unsurprisingly, Gen Z comprises the highest number of workers demanding this type of work. But it is not just Gen Z. Deputy said that they are seeing “shorter average shifts among both Gen Alpha and Baby Boomers, too.” It is not a niche trend, “it’s a generational shift.”
These micro-shifts occur primarily in the hospitality and service industries, where there is less regulatory constraint. Women make up the majority of micro-shifters, and young women represent most poly-workers, where they balance multiple jobs to manage cost pressures. More women are taking on roles in male-dominated shift work, like logistics. Deputy’s CEO asserted that AI is “enhancing—not replacing—shift work” by improving scheduling and work-life integration. Because of AI, employers can do personalized scheduling at scale. The growing demand for in-home services (like caregiving) also created more opportunities for sustainable roles that are more predictable than gig work. These micro-shifts have been helpful for tech professionals because they leave time for upgrading skills to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies. Workers can balance earning an income with ongoing learning.