For Gen Z the American Dream Has No Borders

New survey reveals Gen Z is prioritizing global experience, cross-cultural collaboration and responsible AI — and why many U.S. employers aren’t keeping up

• 82% of Gen Zs in the U.S. already see themselves as part of a global workforce
• More than half of Gen Z would choose the world's best company to work for over the best company in America
• 64% said they would be very or extremely interested in temporary work opportunities in another country
• 65% said they would be more likely to work for a company that demonstrates an ethical understanding of AI's impact on people and communities
• Only 19% gave Corporate America an 'A'
  

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For generations, the American Dream meant building a successful life and career in America. For Gen Z, success is no longer defined by geography. According to a new Pebl survey of 1,022 U.S. Gen Z knowledge workers, 54% believe achieving the American Dream means pursuing the best career opportunity wherever it exists—not just in the United States. More than half (53%) said they would choose the world's best company over the best company in America if salary, title, benefits, and job location were equal.

“After more than a decade working across 185+ countries, we’re seeing a clear shift in how young people define opportunity,” said Francoise Brougher, CEO of Pebl. “Gen Z is not just more open to international careers—they increasingly see global experience as essential to becoming stronger leaders. If companies want globally minded leaders tomorrow, they need to start creating globally minded careers today.”

The American Dream Has More Than One Address
According to the survey, 82% of Gen Z already see themselves as part of a global workforce, while 69% say working with colleagues from different countries and cultures would be career-defining and a major advantage. Nearly three-quarters (73%) believe international experience would broaden their perspective, 71% say it would make them better leaders, and 68% believe it would strengthen their ability to solve problems.

For Gen Z, the best career today isn't necessarily the closest one. It's the one that offers the broadest perspective. In fact, 41% envision careers that allow them to work across two or three countries or markets, reflecting a generation that increasingly sees international experience as part of their long-term career path.

One-Country Careers Are No Longer the Vibe
For years, employers competed on pay, benefits and flexibility. Increasingly, Gen Z is looking for something else: opportunities to build an international career.

Nearly 64% said they would be very or extremely interested in temporary work opportunities in another country. Even more telling, 59% said a lack of international opportunities could influence whether they accept a job offer. Only 6% said they don't need or value global career opportunities or experience.

The Workforce Gen Z Wants Doesn't Exist Yet
There's a growing disconnect between the careers Gen Z wants and the careers many employers are built to offer.

Only 19% gave Corporate America an "A" for preparing young professionals to succeed in a global career. Women were especially critical, with 21% giving U.S. employers a poor or failing grade, compared with just 11% of men. Respondents were also more than twice as likely to say universities and study abroad programs provide the greatest opportunity for international exposure (31%) than Corporate America (15%).

The Hottest Career Skill in the AI Era Isn't AI
As AI reshapes the workplace, Gen Z believes the biggest career advantages will come from skills technology can't replace. Building a strong professional network (28%) and gaining leadership and management experience (26%) ranked as the most valuable drivers of long-term career success. By comparison, developing AI skills ranked last, with just 11% selecting them as the most important.

Rather than replacing the value of human experience, Gen Z believes AI will amplify it. Nearly eight in 10 (78%) believe AI will make uniquely human experiences—such as working across cultures and countries—even more valuable than ever. At the same time, Gen Z expects employers to use AI responsibly. Almost nine in 10 (88%) said they would be more likely to work for a company that demonstrates an ethical understanding of AI's impact on people and communities.

Is The Future of Work Going Interplanetary?
Perhaps the survey's most unexpected finding? Five percent of younger Gen Z respondents said they'd like to gain work experience in outer space. While it's a niche response today—particularly among those working in the construction and hospitality industries—it raises an intriguing question: Are the youngest workers already imagining careers that future generations may see as entirely normal?

Methodology
The results are based on an online survey of 1,022 U.S. Gen Z knowledge workers conducted between July 6 and July 16, 2026 by market research provider, Researchscape on behalf of Pebl. Responses were not weighted. For additional findings, see here.

About Pebl

Pebl is the AI-first leader in global employment, with the leading platform built on a decade of local knowledge and compliance expertise. Pebl helps companies quickly hire and easily pay and manage talent in 185+ countries with real-time AI guidance. Alfie, Pebl’s embedded AI workforce agent, transforms HR conversations into completed actions across hiring, approvals, reporting, and workforce operations. Holding more employment licenses than any other employer of record (EOR) and trusted by thousands of businesses—from Fortune 500s to high-growth startups—Pebl is consistently recognized as a leading EOR provider by analysts and has been rated #1 for compliance on G2. With Pebl, companies everywhere can hire great talent anywhere. To learn more, please visit: hellopebl.com or connect with us on social media LinkedIn | Instagram

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