The modern labor market, shaped by technological advancements and shifting business needs, creates new challenges and opportunities. The changing expectations of the labor market impact various processes on both the employer and employee sides. This study provides an overview of the main characteristics of the labor market and also explores employee motivation in a turbulently changing environment. The altered features and expectations of the workplace, as well as the representatives of different generations currently active in the labor market, have recognized both external and internal motivations and the elements of their personal incentive portfolios.

In our research, we place special emphasis on summarizing the complex employee skills that align with labor market expectations and challenges. In our conclusions, we connect this summary with the research findings on labor market characteristics and workplace motivation.Using quantitative data collection through questionnaires and multivariate analysis methods, we examined the characteristics of currently active employees. The results of our study specify the skills present in the labor market, workplace motivation, and the attributes expected by employers, all in line with research questions based on inductive logic.

The research targeted employees from Generations X, Y, and Z who are active participants in the Slovak labor market. The study was conducted between November 2024 and spring 2025, employing a stratified sampling procedure. The stratification criteria for inclusion in the sample were generational affiliation and the existence of an employment relationship. Upon completion of the survey, a total of 441 valid responses were collected. The questionnaire evaluated the main clusters of questions across generational cohorts.

In terms of workplace motivation, the analysis examined key motivational factors, including remuneration, opportunities for professional development, the working environment, work–life balance, as well as the relevance of challenges and recognition in the course of work. With respect to workplace expectations, the study synthesized motivational determinants (drawing on established models such as those of Maslow and Herzberg) in conjunction with the elements of the employers’ 4K model. On this basis, relationships were identified between the skills demanded by employers and the challenges encountered in the workplace.

The findings summarized generational differences in the experience, occurrence, and frequency of motivational factors in work performance. Furthermore, based on secondary data, the study identified the most important skills currently required in the Slovak labor market, while the conclusions of the questionnaire survey also provided a comparative generational overview of workplace challenges. The methodology applied to uncover employer-required skills was grounded in the skillsets most frequently listed on major Slovak job portals.

The complex skills expected of effective employees in the 21st century—amidst a flood of information and a constantly changing market environment—include communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. These skills enable labor market participants to examine their own and others’ arguments from multiple perspectives, to question and ground received information on objective foundations instead of accepting it immediately or letting subjective opinions dominate the topic, and to avoid generalizations.

Keywords: Critical thinking, workplace motivation, labor market.