Research Trends in Work Adaptability and Turnover Intentions: A Bibliometric Review with Implications for Generation Z
Abstract
In the context of a work environment characterized by increased dynamism and unpredictability, adaptability has become an essential individual resource for the effective management of continuous organizational and technological changes. Workplace adaptability can be defined as the ability of the individual to respond adequately to new professional requirements, role changes, and various occupational contexts, thus contributing to improved performance and long-term career sustainability. In parallel, staff turnover intention remains a relevant indicator for organizations, given its consistent association with actual employee turnover, organizational costs, and the level of internal stability. Although the specialized literature has extensively analyzed both workplace adaptability and staff turnover intention, the relationship between these two constructs remains insufficiently explored from an integrative perspective. Moreover, existing studies are fragmented, focusing predominantly on certain organizational contexts or employee categories, without paying systematic attention to the particularities of Generation Z. In addition, there is a lack of bibliometric analyses that provide an overview of the evolution of research, the main thematic directions, and the existing gaps in this field. Against this background, the present study aims to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on the relationship between workplace adaptability and staff turnover intention, with a specific focus on Generation Z. In particular, the research aims to: (1) examine the evolution over time of scientific production, (2) identify Influential contributors, core journals, and countries with the highest research activity, (3) analyze the dominant research focuses and clusters, and (4) highlight existing gaps and future research directions. Through this approach, the paper contributes to strengthening the understanding of the relationship between adaptability and staff turnover intention in the context of a new generation of employees. The Scopus database was selected due to its extensive and relevant coverage of recent, interdisciplinary literature.