Millennials, members of the generation born between 1981 and 1996, have been dubbed the “unluckiest generation” regarding financial timing. They are coming of age during economic instability and macro environment changes that have drastically affected their opportunities.
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.
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 are also the most diverse and inclusive generation ever. 91% of Gen Z believe everyone is equal and should be treated so.
Millennials (and the kids born after them) are currently being called the “unhealthiest generation” in human history—facing diagnoses, mysterious illnesses and conditions that our ancestors or their parents never faced.
Gen Z (42%) is about twice as likely as Americans over 25 (23%) to battle depression and feelings of hopelessness.
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.
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.
A CM Group consumer research effort that polled 1,000 consumers found Gen Z consumers are better educated, more practical, more ambitious and more skeptical than Millennials.
Male millennials were the fastest typists as a group, 56.5 words per minute, with women 1.5 words per minute slower. Generation X were well above boomers but lagging their younger betters, at 48.5 words per minute for men and 51.7 words per minute for women.
And data does back up these aphorisms. A groundbreaking 20-year study conducted by wealth consultancy, The Williams Group, involved over 3,200 families and found that seven in 10 families tend to lose their fortune by the second generation, while nine in 10 lose it by the third generation.
Boomers — the oldest generation surveyed, born from 1946 through 1964 — gave the biggest gifts to charity, contributing an average of $2,921 in 2016 and $2,568 in 2022. Millennials, born from 1981 through 1996, were the second-most generous, and Gen X households ranked third.
The ability to afford material goods is motivating Gen Z to achieve financial success more than any other generation. In a generational riff on a Madonna classic, “We are living in a material world, and Gen Z is a material girl.”
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.
The generation prioritises learning and professional development opportunities in their jobs. 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.
One in four Gen Z respondents reported feeling more emotionally distressed (25 percent), almost double the levels reported by millennial and Gen X respondents (13 percent each), and more than triple the levels reported by baby boomer respondents (8 percent). 3.
“Generationally, a larger majority of Gen Z adults do most of their work in person compared with their older counterparts, and this young cohort also shows the strongest overall preference for working in an office,” the study reads. Just shy of 90% of Gen Z workers who prefer the office cite productivity as the reason.
The brains of Generation Zs have become wired to sophisticated, complex visual imagery. As a result, the part of the brain responsible for visual ability is far more developed, making visual forms of learning more effective.
' They are highly collaborative, self-reliant and pragmatic, according to new Stanford-affiliated research. Generation Z, the first generation never to know the world without the internet, value diversity and finding their own unique identities, says Stanford scholar Roberta Katz.
Baby Boomers are extremely hardworking and motivated by position, perks, and prestige. As a group, baby boomers are the wealthiest, most active, and most physically fit generation.
Dan Schawbel, best-selling author and research director, Future Workplace, Said: “Despite younger generations being called lazy by older generations, Gen Zers consider themselves the hardest-working.
Studies have not conclusively identified any genes that have major roles in differences in intelligence. It is likely that a large number of genes are involved, each of which makes only a small contribution to a person's intelligence.
Students fear a lack of finances and fulfilment
The greatest fears for Generation Z centre on not achieving their hopes and dreams for the future.
And it's a surprising finding that UK Gen Zers are three times more likely to describe themselves as introverts than extroverts. Perhaps this is because there's more of an opportunity to thrive as an introvert thanks to powerful communication tools – an opportunity previous generations hadn't grown up with.
Gen Z (42%) is about twice as likely as Americans over 25 (23%) to battle depression and feelings of hopelessness.