A young adult is defined to be in the ages 16–25 and it is during these years that they step in to the job market. Many young adults feel pressured by society to have a job and to keep it. There are motivational factors such as money, activity level, variation, social contacts and personal development that drives the young adult to want a job. The purpose of the study was to examine which motivational factors are significant and the difference between the genders. The study was based on a questionnaire with 48 participants categorized in the ages between 16–20 and 21–25. The result of the study showed that money and social contacts are the most significant factors for young adults. There were no significant differences between genders when it comes to the factors money and social contacts. Further, the study showed that women are more affected by the unemployment than men, and that a new factor, fear, showed up in the questionnaires’ open answers.