Getting ready for the young generation to join the workforce: A comparative analysis of the work values of Chinese and Slovenian business students

Abstract

Due to the ever greater cooperation between China and CEE countries, and especially the lack of research on the young generation’s work values among the latter, we fill an empirical gap and conduct a comparative analysis of work values among Chinese and Slovenian business students. We explore the relationship between national culture and differences in expressed work values. While advancement was the top item within both samples, we found a stronger instrumental value dimension for the Slovenians and a stronger social-altruistic value dimension for the Chinese. Moreover, while national culture remains a factor for understanding the work values of the young generation, it is not the dominant one. Our results offer some support for a universal or crossvergence perspective on the work values of the young generation.