Abstract
Abstract
Generation Z's distinct expectations around meaningful work, flexibility, wellbeing, and authentic leadership are reshaping how organizations attract, engage, and retain talent, yet the growing research literature on this cohort remains fragmented across disconnected streams. This study synthesizes 97 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2016 and 2026 through a hybrid bibliometric and systematic literature review to consolidate this knowledge base. Bibliometric analysis, conducted using the Bibliometrix package and Biblioshiny interface in R, mapped the field's publication trends, influential sources and authors, keyword structure, and intellectual foundations through co-citation and historiographic analysis. A complementary thematic synthesis of the full-text corpus identified four interconnected themes: employee engagement and workplace expectations, talent management and retention strategies, leadership and organizational culture, and sustainability, wellbeing, and future workforce dynamics. Findings show the field has grown rapidly since 2020 (27.1% annual growth rate), with research increasingly converging on psychological and relational drivers of engagement and retention rather than compensation alone. Integrating these findings, the study proposes the Human-Centric Workforce Ecosystem Framework, linking organizational systems, psychological mechanisms, and workforce outcomes. The review offers theoretical, managerial, and future-research implications for organizations seeking to build sustainable, human-centric workforce strategies for Generation Z employees.