According to the Pew Research Center, Gen Z is the least likely to drop out of high school and the most likely to go to college, compared with older generations.
But the one thing that millennials couldn't seem to put an end to was a lack of economic opportunity as they entered the job market. Despite being the most educated generation to date, graduating college didn't put them in better financial shape than older cohorts at their age.
While 41% of Gen Z adults say they do tend to trust U.S. colleges and universities, a much larger percentage of baby boomers (55%) are likely to say the same.
They're money-driven and ambitious
Quite the opposite is true. Gen Z are 29% more likely than other generations to say they're money driven and ambitious. When it comes to saving money, they're pretty savvy. 63% of this group say they want to save more money over the next 3 months – ahead of other generations.
They put more emphasis on being the "perfect mom" compared to Millennials, and they strive to reach more parenting ideals, from keeping kids busy to owning the scheduling for the entire family.
Regarding the stats, it's clear that Gen Z is struggling. A 2022 survey of Gen Z young adults (ages 19 through 24) found that 42% are diagnosed with a mental health condition. Of these people, 26% were diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which worsened mental health for many people of all ages.
Millennials and Gen Z are less enthusiastic about having children than their parents. The reasons are many: financial, social, and biological, along with the preference among younger generations for “freedom.” America's falling fertility rates have been a cause for concern for several decades.
And it looks like Gen Z is indeed shaping up to be a homebody generation as well: Looking at their favorite activities by age, 13-18-year-olds are the most likely to say they “go out with friends” for fun in an average night, but playing video or mobile tops their list, followed by watching TV or movies.
Some reports indicate that the competitive nature of Gen-Z means they are more interested in working independently. After all, they were raised by highly independent Gen-Xers, so today's youths are used to doing things on their own. However, other reports call Generation Z more collaborative than Millennials.
Their embrace of unorthodox learning methods partly stems from the vast adjustments they've made during the pandemic, as remote learning and new ways of gaining an education became standard. Not only is Gen Z more likely to go to college, but its members are on track to become the most educated generation yet.
Research also indicates that Gen Zers are currently the most stressed demographic of people. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that: 90% of Gen Z experienced psychological or physical symptoms as a result of stress in the last year. ²
The Greatest Generation commonly refers to those Americans who were born in the 1900s through the 1920s. The Greatest Generation members all lived through the Great Depression and many of them fought in World War II.
Baby boomers have the highest household net worth of any US generation. Defined by the Federal Reserve as being born between 1946 and 1964 (currently in the ages between 59 and 77), baby boomers are in often in the sunset of their career or early into retirement.
'Devastating – economically, socially and much more'
In the short term, Gen Z's stress is leading to ambivalence and withdrawal in their professional lives. According to 2022 data from Gallup, they are the most disengaged group at work. They also report more overall stress and work-related burnout than other cohorts.
According to a recent survey of 1,300 managers, three out of four agree that Gen Z is harder to work with than other generations — so much so that 65% of employers said they have to fire them more often.
One of the most common stereotypes surrounding Gen Z is their 'troubling obsession' with technology. While it's true that they are digital natives who have grown up with the internet and smartphones, you could argue that this is a tech evolution rather than a generational obsession.
As digital natives, Gen Zers love TikTok. Among other social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, TikTok stands out. Not only is the app Gen Z-dominated, with 43% of global users aged 18-24, but young consumers also prefer TikTok to such an extent that it's begun to rival Google as a search engine.
Social media is a huge trend for this generation. Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are, by far, the most frequently used platforms. One-quarter of Gen Zers spend five hours or more per day on TikTok. TikTok continues to soar in popularity among members of Generation Z (4,600% in 5 years).
Art and Music / Playing an instrument are top hobbies for Gen Z and Millennials that are included in both their top five rankings.
For generation Z, 73 percent of respondents said they weren't currently dating or looking for a relationship because they had more important priorities at the moment. The survey showed a generational gap in the different reasons why Americans are content with being single.
Gen Xers would come to be known as one of the “least parented, least nurtured generations in U.S. history,” with parents divorcing at historic rates as both mom and dad worked in pursuit of an American Dream.
A majority of millennials — those born from 1981 to 1996 — aren't tying the knot at the same rate as previous generations. 56% of millennials are not married, leaving less than half of millennials saying “I do,” according to the Pew Research Center.