Just 59% of Gen Z workers are happy, compared to 69% for Baby Boomers and 76% for Millennials and Gen X. In addition, 9% of Baby Boomers are unhappy at work, compared to 26% of Gen Z and 13% for Gen X and Millennials.
It found that, while there are similar rates of happiness across the older three generations, Gen Z is by far the least happy at work. Twenty-six percent of Gen Zers were unhappy in their jobs, and 17% were actively thinking about quitting.
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.
Studies show that millennials tend to favour job flexibility, which means they expect jobs to adapt to them. They are also more likely to change jobs if their employment no longer meets their needs. Meanwhile, Generation Z were hit harder by unemployment, which is why they tend to prefer job stability and security.
Doing so may reveal why millennials are the happiest generation—like, ever. Their secret? Taking care of themselves. And that goes for mind, body, and spirit, experts say.
So it's no surprise recent studies have declared millennials, especially women, the most anxious generation in history. Anxiety comes in many forms, but the simplest way to describe it is feeling worried or nervous about the future or uncertain situations.
Millennials. 57% of Millennials are very happy at work—making them the happiest generation. 60% of Millennials find great meaning and purpose at work—making them the most-fulfilled generation.
According to respondents, the reason they feel Gen Z is difficult to work with is because they lack technological skills, effort and motivation. But those shortcomings hint to deeper, more convoluted issues that date back to the pandemic.
Top reasons they feel GenZ is difficult to work with is they lack of technological skills, effort, and motivation. 65% say they more commonly need to fire GenZers than employees of other generations. 12% have fired a GenZer less than one week after their start date.
Aligned with the job satisfaction insights, Gen Zs also proved to be the generation most likely to quit their job if they are unhappy with their workplace, the report found.
Over 50 million workers said goodbye last year, and it's a trend that's shown no signs of slowing, based on the latest months' data. The Great Resignation was increasingly dominated by Gen Z.
Generation Z has often been labelled as lazy, but that is due to the growth in the efficiency of life with more technology. Self-absorbed.
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.
² 70% of Gen Z say that anxiety and depression are significant problems among their peers.
What are the values of Gen Z? Gen Z is known for being resourceful, independent learners who value diversity and inclusive culture and place a priority on well-being and mental health in the workplace. They are fiscally conservative with a keen focus on investing and income. Gen Z values justice and equity.
Why Is Generation Z So Depressed? Gen Z faces chronic stress from many factors including school shootings, student debt, joblessness and even politics. Technology plays a role, too. Growing up in a hyper-connected world can evoke intense feelings of isolation and loneliness in some youth.
“Gen Z are digital natives and they've always communicated online, so their interpersonal skills, or soft skills, have suffered,” said Salinas. “They took an even bigger hit because of Covid-19, and it has shifted the way that we need to interact with them in the workplace.”
They're impulsive. Another weakness of Gen Z is that they can be quite impulsive. With instant gratification being so easily accessible, this generation has difficulty waiting for anything. They want what they want and they want it now!
About 2 in 5 (39%) of Gen Z respondents ranked inflation and gas prices as one of their top three issues, followed by abortion (30%), jobs (26%), and climate change (23%). Both Gen Zers and Millennials in our survey cited the same top two issues: inflation and access to reproductive healthcare.
In a recent Resume Builder survey of managers, 74% said Gen Z is the most difficult age group to work with. Half said they are difficult all or most of the time. Only 4% said they almost never find it difficult to work with Gen Z employees.
Greater flexibility
Gen Z employees believe that they are more than their jobs and they want their employers to know the same. However, they have indicated in polls that they are prepared to work hard even on weekends and evenings when necessary to develop their careers and achieve security.
The study found that about half (49%) of millennials surveyed want to work fully remote, whereas only 27% of Generation Z (Gen Zers) feel the same way; they're much more likely than average “to be seeking in-person” work opportunities. Oddly, Gen X and baby boomers felt less impassioned about remote options.
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.
Gen Z and Gen X are likely grappling with joblessness for multiple reasons, including lack of skills and experience (Gen Z) and ageism (Gen X), but the outlook isn't totally bleak. Here are some tips from experts on how to secure employment heading into 2023.
New research from talent management company Cangrade has looked at workplace happiness generation by generation. And a survey of 600 individuals found that Gen Z is the most unhappy generation at work. Just 59% of Gen Z workers are happy, compared to 69% for Baby Boomers and 76% for Millennials and Gen X.