Gen Z’s Intentions to Work Overseas: The Impact of Need for Achievement, Affiliation, and Power with Gender as a Moderator

Abstract

According to data from BP2MI in 2023, Indonesians have increased interest in working overseas. One of the fundamental drivers of human behavior is need. This research aims to determine whether three specific needs (need for achievement, power, and affiliation) influence Gen Z’s intention to work overseas, with gender as a potential moderator. This quantitative research focused on Gen Z individuals as respondents. Data were collected using Google Forms distributed among 478 students (354 females; 124 males) from various universities in Indonesia. Hypothesis testing employed moderation path analysis, facilitated by the statistical software Jamovi 2.3.26. The respondents’ need profiles were: need for achievement (M = 3.81), affiliation (M = 3.57), and power (M = 3.57). Results from hypothesis testing indicate that gender did not moderate the need for achievement, power, and affiliation, which impact Gen Z’s intentions to work overseas. Need for achievement emerged as the most dominant need among respondents, followed by affiliation and power. These findings suggest implications for designing effective self-development programs tailored to individuals’ dominant needs, thereby enhancing the success of interventions.