The rise of multi‑track careers: Why 26 % of Gen Z in India are already working alongside their studies

In lecture halls by day and on Zoom calls by night, India’s Gen Z is quietly rewriting the rules of growing up. According to the Deloitte Global 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey – India Country Report, a striking 26% of Gen Z respondents in India are already working while pursuing their education.Forget the old-school timeline of “study, graduate, get a job.” Today’s young Indians are studying, working, earning, networking, and sometimes even building start-ups, all at the same time. Welcome to the age of the multi-track career.And this isn’t a passing phase. It’s the new blueprint for success.

Why Gen Z is jumping in early

In the past, college was a time to focus solely on academics. But for Gen Z, born between 1995 and 2006, the lines between education and employment are blurring.

Many are diving into real-world work experiences before their final exams are even scheduled.So, what’s fuelling this shift?First, there’s economic pressure. According to Deloitte, 55% of Gen Zs in India are living paycheck to paycheck, a figure that outpaces global averages. With rising tuition, soaring rents, and increasing cost of living, working alongside studies is becoming less of a choice and more of a necessity.

But it’s not just about money. There’s also a deep hunger for experience and relevance. A massive 94% of Indian Gen Zs say that on-the-job learning and practical exposure are the most helpful for career growth. Classroom lectures are no longer enough—they want to build portfolios, not just pass exams.

Real skills, real stakes

Gen Z students today aren’t just juggling part-time jobs in cafes or retail. They’re:

And they’re doing it all with a sense of urgency.

With GenAI reshaping industries overnight and jobs evolving faster than curricula, Gen Z knows that experience is currency—and they’re accumulating it early.

Are colleges and companies keeping up?

The big question now: is the ecosystem ready for this shift?Most academic institutions in India still follow rigid schedules with little room for hybrid learning or part-time study. But Gen Z wants flexibility. They want degrees that adapt to their lives, not the other way around.

Universities offering evening classes, modular credits, or internships integrated into the curriculum are the ones leading the way.Employers, too, must rethink entry-level talent. Gen Z isn’t looking for traditional 9-to-5 paths. They want:

According to the Deloitte, report 47% of Indian Gen Zs have left a job because it lacked meaning. Even more (42%) say they’ve rejected offers from companies that didn’t align with their personal values or ethics.

A generation that’s building portfolios, not just careers

For India’s Gen Z, work is not just about money – it’s about identity, independence, and purpose. Many are pursuing “portfolio careers” by balancing a degree, a freelance gig, a start-up idea, and a certification course, all at once.They’re also more conscious about mental health and work-life balance, both ranked as top career goals in the Deloitte survey. This holistic approach is changing how success is defined—from just salary and job title to meaning, flexibility, and personal growth.And their ambitions are bold. Some want to master their fields, some aim for financial freedom by their mid-20s, while others want to build careers that align with climate action, gender equity, or ethical technology.

What’s next?

The implications are massive. If 1 in 4 Gen Zs are already working while studying today, that number is only set to grow. Education systems will need to evolve. Recruiters will have to change how they assess talent.

And society will need to adjust to a generation that doesn’t believe in waiting for permission to begin.This is a generation of builders, doers, and early starters. They’re not following in anyone’s footsteps—they’re laying new roads. And they’re doing it while balancing college, clients, and causes—all before turning 25.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.