Soft Skills and Motivation as Drivers of Workforce Readiness to Support Organizational Adaptability in Gen Z: A Systematic Literature Study

Abstract

The rapid transformation of the business environment in the digital era requires organizations to develop a high degree of adaptability. This adaptability is largely influenced by the readiness of the workforce, particularly Generation Z (Gen Z), who are increasingly entering the labor market. As digital natives, Gen Z demonstrate strong technological literacy but often face gaps in non-technical competencies, especially soft skills. At the same time, motivation is considered a psychological driver that strengthens individual readiness to face dynamic workplace demands. This study aims to systematically examine the role of soft skills and motivation as drivers of workforce readiness to support organizational adaptability in Gen Z. Using a systematic literature review approach, relevant articles published between 2020 and 2025 were collected and analyzed to identify theoretical and empirical findings. The results indicate that communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving are among the most critical soft skills for enhancing work readiness, while intrinsic and extrinsic motivation both significantly contribute to Gen Z’s adaptive capacity. Furthermore, the interaction between soft skills and motivation is found to reinforce organizational adaptability by enabling individuals to respond effectively to changes. This study contributes to human resource development strategies, particularly in designing interventions to improve Gen Z’s employability and readiness for organizational transformation.