Nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z are stressed all or most of the time, according to Deloitte study (2024)

Nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z are stressed all or most of the time, according to Deloitte study (1)

The pandemic took a heavy toll on the mental health of millennials and Generation Z, a new study has found. According to theDeloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Generation Z Survey, four in ten millennials and Gen Zs are stressed all or most of the time, and about one-third of them had to take time off work due to stress.

The survey was conducted among 23,000 people in 45 countries, including Ireland, and participants were born between January 1983 and December 2003.

Despite experiencing high levels of stress, millennials and Gen Zs haven’t talked to their employer about it.

According to the survey, only 32% of millennials and Gen Z have spoken to their employer about pandemic-induced stress, while 41% said that their employer did not take any measures to support their mental health during the pandemic. According to a Deloitte representative, it’s critical that businesses understand the struggles that their workers are going through because of the pandemic and foster a culture that promotes their wellbeing. This is backed up by numerous studies which state that poor mental health can affect work productivity and even lead to anxiety and depression. Although there has been more awareness on mental health in the past years, stigma still remains, and businesses will have to address this.

Being able to talk openly about stress and other mental health concerns is important in any modern workplace, and failing to build this kind of culture could cost employers. The survey also analysed the job loyalty of millennials and Gen Zs and found that, compared to previous years, more respondents said that they planned to leave their current workplace in the following two years. For example, only half of millennials and Gen Zs said that their current jobs align with their personal beliefs and ethics. Less than half of respondents believed that businesses have a positive impact on society.

As for the reasons why millennials and Gen Zs are feeling stressed, the survey found that financial insecurity is one of the leading causes, with two-thirds of respondents saying that they often worry about their financial situation. Other reasons for being stressed included fear of their loved ones getting sick, family welfare, having fewer job prospects because of the pandemic, and witnessing devastating global events.

Stress levels have increased consistently during the pandemic.

Millennials and Gen Z aren’t the only ones who have experienced higher levels of stress due to the pandemic. A study conducted in Ireland this year also found that the number of people who struggled with their mental health during the pandemicwas four times higher compared to previous years. The biggest jump was reported among female respondents: if in 2017, only 9% of women reported experiencing mental health issues, during the pandemic, that percentage increased to 43%. Worryingly, 46% of respondents said they preferred to hide mental health struggles from family and friends, and most were from young age groups.

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Nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z are stressed all or most of the time, according to Deloitte study (2024)

FAQs

Are Gen Z more stressed than millennials? ›

Researchers say there's evidence Gen Z's mental health struggles are different. Compared with older generations today, the Gallup-WFF study said members of Gen Z are much more likely to report experiencing negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and loneliness.

Which generation has the most stress? ›

Although the stress of experiencing a continuing polycrisis affects people of all demographics, recent research from GlobeScan shows that Gen Z respondents across 31 countries and territories are more than twice as likely to say they frequently experience stress and anxiety than are Baby Boomers and older.

Are 69% of millennial and Gen Z employees more likely to stay for five or more years at a company with a diverse work ›

According to data from Deloitte, 69% of millennial and Gen Z employees are more likely to stay for five or more years at a company with a diverse workforce—with Glassdoor research adding that 76% of employees cite DEI in strategy as “non-negotiable.”

Which age group is the most stressed? ›

A survey conducted in 2022 found that young adults aged between 18 and 24 were more likely to suffer from moderate to severe stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Which generation has the most mental health issues? ›

This incidence of negative emotions is particularly high among Gen Z, which reports rates of anxiety, stress, sadness and loneliness at least seven percentage points higher than those of millennials, Gen X, baby boomers and the Silent Generation.”

Is Gen Z doing better than millennials? ›

Millennials were somewhat better off than Gen X—those born between 1965 and 1980—when they were the same age. Zoomers, however, are much better off than millennials were at the same age. The typical 25-year-old Gen Z-er has an annual household income of over $40,000, more than 50% above baby-boomers at the same age.

Is 91% of Gen Z stressed? ›

According to Cigna International Health's 2023 survey of almost 12,000 workers around the world, 91% of 18-to-24-year-olds report being stressed – compared to 84% on average. Research indicates Gen Z are emerging as the most stressed demographic in the workplace, and struggling mightily to cope.

Which generation is struggling the most? ›

Not just growing pains: Gen Z reports suffering more than other generations did at their age. A new study from Gallup shows a crushing youth mental health crisis, because teens are more tuned in than ever.

Is Gen Z the most depressed gen? ›

To make matters worse, young adults grapple with uncertainty about their future, financial insecurities, and feelings of isolation and loneliness due to changes in dating and relationship patterns. Recent studies reveal an undeniable problem: Gen Z is the most depressed and anxious when compared with other generations.

Why Gen Z and millennials are quitting their jobs? ›

At the core of both quiet quitting and resenteeism are common themes: burnout, feeling undervalued, and feeling unfulfilled.

Which generation quits the most? ›

Most Gen Zs consider themselves job hoppers. Gen Zs are taking work by storm—with increased demands and heightened expectations. They also have tremendous job mobility and majorities of them say they are likely to quit or hop to new jobs for all kinds of reasons.

Do millennials outnumber Gen Z? ›

As a demographic cohort, Generation Z is smaller than the baby boomers and their children, the Millennials.

Why is Gen Z the most stressed generation? ›

Adolescents aren't immune to the potential strains of school, home and social circles either. Triggering stress may be the pressures of making early career decisions, standardized or high-stakes testing, and the balancing act between extracurricular activities and academics.

Why are millennials so stressed? ›

Millennials have seen two major economic collapses, higher rates of divorce among their parents, a skyrocketing student loan crisis and a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Altogether, these events have created a sense of uncertainty, doubt and fear for what the future holds,” he adds.

Are older millennials the most financially stressed? ›

Indeed, 80% of older millennials said they felt stressed about their financial situations. Broadly, millennials' financial well-being scores have tumbled over the past year, data from Morning Consult shows.

Is Gen Z the hardest generation? ›

While the survey indicates that three out of four managers find Gen Z to be the most challenging to work with, Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder, suggests that the challenges managers face with this generation may be attributed more to their companies' lack of preparedness.

What is the most traumatized generation? ›

Generation X, the cohort born between the early 1960s and late 1970s, leads in experiencing financial trauma, with 74% reporting challenges, closely followed by millennials at 71%, Generation Z at 64%, Baby Boomers at 63% and the Silent Generation at 60%.

Are millennials the most anxious generation? ›

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.

Is depression higher in Gen Z? ›

Gen Z individuals face some of the highest rates of mental health conditions (eg, depression) [15,16]; thus, spirituality should be considered in addressing youth mental health today.

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