According to many baby boomers (those born in the early 1940's to the mid 1960's) millennials have it the easiest!
Millennials are arguably the hardest working generation in the workforce today, albeit how they approach work looks drastically different than their older counterparts. Boomers typically approach work in a hierarchical structure.
Generation X, born from 1965 through 1980, is the least-parented generation. Our parents divorced in record numbers in an inflationary time like today. “Our generation is considered the least parented generation, it's true: look it up on Wikipedia,” Christina Pazsitzky explains in her first Netflix comedy special.
Millennials are on track to become the most educated generation in the coming years. Educational attainment has increased among young adults in almost every successive business cycle in the last six decades.
Gen Z is also the smartest and best educated generation. Having an unlimited wealth of information at our disposal has not gone to waste. In America, 57 percent of Gen Z is reported to have enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 52 percent of Millenials and 43 percent of Gen X.
If you haven't heard much about Gen X, it's because they're known as "the forgotten generation." Born between 1965 and 1980, Gen X has fallen to the wayside of the media darlings they're bookended by — millennials and baby boomers.
The Silent Generation, also known as the Traditionalist Generation, is the Western demographic cohort following the Greatest Generation and preceding the Baby Boomers. The Silent Generation is generally defined as people born from 1928 to 1945.
As generational stereotypes go, I nominate Gen X to be, without a doubt, known as "The Coolest Generation." Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964) started off on the right track with the hippie movement in the '60s, but soon became the folks that brought us the “Me Decade,” yuppies, and President Trump.
Baby boomers are collectively 10 times wealthier than millennials. Millennials are 24% behind Generation X in terms of wealth accumulated.
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.
If millennials can combine their focus on saving with an ability to take prudent risks and seek out long-term investment returns, they may earn an entirely new moniker: the Wisest Generation.
This generation cares greatly about autonomy and work-life balance — almost two-thirds of Gen Z would prefer to work for themselves in a start-up. About half report that they would quit their job if it interfered with their work-life balance.
Coming from a world where the economy was thriving and opportunities were booming, baby boomers tend to be driven in terms of their work ethic. Many people in this generation had an opportunity for a career and a university education, unlike their counterparts earlier in history.
In its latter years, this generation was introduced to continued technological advancements such as mobile phones and the internet. As of 2019, approximately 389,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II remain alive. Living members of this generation are either in their 90s or are centenarians.
People sometimes refer to Gen X as the “New Lost Generation”. Back in their early days, they were considered lost because of the shifting societal values at the time – divorces were high and they were lonely children.
Gen Z Age Range is roughly 11 to 26 years old today.
However, the lower end of this generation is subject to change (it took years before the millennial age range was "finalized").
Gen Z Terms and Definitions
Pew Research recently defined Gen Z as anyone born 1997 onwards. Gen Z grew up with technology, the internet, and social media, which sometimes causes them to be stereotyped as tech-addicted, anti-social, or “social justice warriors.”
Researchers found that, compared to previous generations, members of Generation X and Generation Y showed poorer physical health, higher levels of unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking, and more depression and anxiety.
This generation is super smart and aware. They grew up with more technology and access to global information than any other in history.
The Economist has described generation Z as a better-educated, well-behaved, stressed, and depressed generation compared to previous generations. Gen Z is also more ethnically diverse and familiar with gender-neutral pronouns.
They prefer their jobs to be stable touchstones they can rely on — but still, they want it to be on their own terms. Stubborn independence — Despite wanting stability, the iGeneration, like their millennial predecessors, are practical.
They're passionate about inclusivity. According to the US Census, Gen Alpha will be the most diverse generation in history, and it's shaping kids' expectations. They're looking for representation and inclusivity, and helping people is the number 1 priority for 12-15s in the States.