THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING
Hrtech Outlook Weekly Brief
Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Hrtech Outlook
Gallup and Walton Family Foundation Launch Gen Z Research Panel
WASHINGTON - Gallup and Walton Family Foundation today unveiled the Gen Z Panel, one of the largest and most comprehensive national research panels to track sentiment and behavior of this generation over time. Having the ability to compare this youngest generation to older ones will reveal new insights as to how this generation is different from those before.
"This is a critical moment for youth and for the adults supporting them," said Romy Drucker, director of the Education Program at the Walton Family Foundation. "This partnership with Gallup will generate insights and perspectives to help us all be better guides, better listeners, and better partners as the next generation rises."
In summary, the survey reveals that 47% of Gen Z individuals are currently experiencing a sense of thriving, which is lower compared to older generations, including millennials (59%), Gen Xers (57%), and baby boomers (52%). Notably, Gen Z Americans are thriving at a lower rate than millennials did at the same age, as per Gallup polling. In 2014, 60% of millennials aged 18 to 26 were considered thriving, which is 13 percentage points higher than the current rate for 18- to 26-year-old Gen Z individuals.
Some of the challenges related to Gen Z's well-being may be attributed to their mental health. More than a third of Gen Z individuals rate their mental health as either "poor" (10%) or "only fair" (26%), which is higher than any other generation. Additionally, 54% of Gen Zers report frequently feeling anxious, surpassing the percentages of millennials (44%), Gen Xers (42%), baby boomers (33%), and the silent generation (25%). This impact on mental health is also affecting their academic performance, as Gen Z students with fair or poor mental health are 59% more likely to report missing school in the past month compared to those with excellent mental health.
Despite their struggles with mental and emotional well-being, the majority of Gen Z individuals remain optimistic about their future. Even among those who rate their mental health as "only fair," 65% agree or strongly agree that they have a promising future ahead of them. Optimism is particularly pronounced among Black Gen Zers, with 45% strongly agreeing that they have a great future, compared to 30% of Hispanic Gen Zers and 31% of White Gen Zers.
However, a notable challenge for Gen Z is their lack of preparedness for the future, with only about 44% of Gen Z students feeling adequately prepared. This lack of confidence may reflect concerns about the extent to which their schools are equipping them for future careers. Many Gen Z middle and high school students feel that their schools do not offer practical learning experiences that could help them enter the workforce. For instance, only 29% and 34% of Gen Z students agree that their school provides opportunities to learn job application skills or interview preparation, respectively. Additionally, only half of Gen Z students feel that their schoolwork challenges them in a meaningful way (52%).
One of the most common barriers to Gen Z's goals and aspirations is the lack of financial resources, cited by 64% of respondents. Cost is particularly concerning for Gen Z students who plan to attend college, as just over half (53%) believe they will be able to afford it. When asked about their most significant hopes for the future, more than two-thirds (69%) of Gen Z individuals rank earning enough to live comfortably among their top three aspirations. Black Gen Z Americans, in particular, express a strong interest in pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities, with 41% expressing a desire to start their own businesses, compared to 36% of Hispanic Gen Z Americans and 25% of White Gen Z Americans.
Overall, trust in societal institutions varies among Gen Z members. Less than half express a high level of confidence in the medical system (45%), military (40%), and police (38%). Trust is even lower for the criminal justice system (23%), large technology companies (17%), and the news (16%). The only entities trusted significantly by this generation are teachers (63%) and science (71%).
"Empowering Gen Z to achieve their goals and aspirations requires that schools provide students with relevant experiences and education that will help them navigate the workforce," said Stephanie Marken, Gallup partner and executive director for education research. "For those students who want to pursue postsecondary education, we have work to do to communicate affordable paths to education and training beyond high school so that every student can realize post-high school dreams."
