By 2030, gen Z and millennials to make up 74% of global workforce

Deloitte’s 14th annual gen Z and millennials survey surveyed more than 23,000 respondents from 44 countries. By 2030, these generations are projected to make up 74% of the global workforce.

The survey shows that they prioritize money, meaning and work-life balance, while they see acquiring technical and “soft” skills as key to success in the future business environment.

Career development without adequate support from leaders

While ambitious, many gen Z-ers do not want to become managers, the company said in a statement. Instead, they value learning opportunities, work-life balance and advancement.

Leadership positions are not a priority: Only six percent of gen Z-ers see themselves in management as their main goal. Yet many choose employers precisely because of the learning opportunities.

Wanting more support from managers: About a half of them say they would like to be taught and mentored by their managers, but only a third actually experience it.

Doubts about education: About a quarter of respondents doubt that a university degree provides relevant skills and experience for the job market.

GenAI and the future of work

The survey results further showed that the use of generative AI is growing rapidly and is helping young people improve the quality of their work - but also raising concerns.

Increasing use of GenAI: The vast majority expect GenAI to change their jobs in the next year. More than half already use AI in their daily work.

Mixed feelings: While many report improvements in work quality and balance, over 60 percent worry that AI could eliminate jobs, so they are looking for jobs that are “AI-resistant.”

“Soft” skills are key: More than 80 percent of respondents believe that skills such as empathy, communication and leadership are more important for career advancement than technical skills.

In search of money, meaning and work-life balance

When choosing jobs and considering careers, young people cite three key factors: financial security, purpose and work-life balance.

Financial insecurity is on the rise: Nearly half of gen Z (48 percent) and millennials (46 percent) say they don’t feel financially secure - a significant increase from last year. Without financial security, they are less likely to find their work meaningful and have poorer mental health.

Purpose impacts job satisfaction: Nine in 10 respondents say a sense of purpose is important to their job satisfaction. For some, that means making a positive impact on society, while for others, it means being able to make money, have free time, or develop skills that help them outside of work.

Good mental health helps maintain a sense of purpose: Among those who report good mental health, 67 percent of gen Z and 72 percent of millennials say their work is meaningful. Among those with poor mental health, that percentage is significantly lower (44 percent and 46 percent, respectively).

This survey includes responses from 14,751 gen Z-ers (born between January 1995 and December 2006) and 8,731 Millennials (born between January 1983 and December 1994).

A total of 23,482 respondents from 44 countries around the world were surveyed. The survey was conducted via an online questionnaire between October 25 and December 24, 2024, with some responses coming from additional qualitative interviews.

Note: Gen Z in this survey includes only adults, which is why the upper limit shifts each year.

Deloitte

generation Z

millennials

labor market

workforce

artificial intelligence

GenAI