Money Gen Z Workforce Statistics
Those in the Gen Z age group (born between 1997 and 2012) have started to enter the workforce over the last few years, with Gen Z expected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030. [1] NaceWeb, "Generation Z in the Workplace" https://www.naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/student-attitudes/generation-z-in-the-workplace
A survey on behalf of Self Financial sought to understand how Gen Z is adapting to the world of work, their view on jobs, and how other generations feel about Gen Z workers.
Key statistics
- Gen Z is projected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030, amounting to nearly 50 million jobs.
- Workers in the Gen Z age range in the survey earn an average of $2,991 per month (or $35,892 per year), and 3.5% say their monthly earnings are not enough to cover their cost of living.
- Gen Z workers' average salary expectation when looking for a new job is $70,790, with the highest proportion (28.8%) looking for a salary between $60k and $80k.
- 70.4% of Gen Z workers say they feel stressed at work, while 69% feel inspired, and 62.4% feel happy.
- The top motivation for Gen Z at work is job security, with 29.4% prioritizing this, while other generations focus more on getting paid (50.3%).
- 53.4% of Gen Z say they feel guilty if they have to call in sick for work, a higher proportion compared to workers in other age groups (38.1%).
- People in other generations have a mostly positive view of Gen Z workers, with 69% saying they are friendly, and 68.4% saying they are hardworking.
- The vast majority of Gen Z workers (97.5%) use some form of AI tool at work, with the most common uses being content creation (85.9%) and data analysis (85.2%).
Who are Gen Z?
Generation Z, commonly referred to as Gen Z, is the demographic cohort born between 1997 and 2012. As of 2026, Gen Z spans ages 13 to 28, making them the youngest generation currently entering or participating in the adult workforce.
Gen Z is the most diverse generation of Americans to date; almost 50% of them are racial and ethnic minorities, and 16% identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
This age group is widely considered the first true digital native generation, following millennials who experienced the rise of the internet while cable television and landline phones were still widely used. [2] Britannica, "Gen Z" https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-Z
Gen Z in work statistics
The majority (92.5%) of Gen Z adults are employed full-time
Of those surveyed, 92.5% of Gen Z over the age of 18 are currently in full-time employment, while 5% are employed part-time and 1.4% are self-employed. Just 1.2% of Gen Z survey respondents said they are unemployed.
Gen Zers are expected to overtake Baby Boomers in the workforce
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that the number of Gen Z workers overtook the number of Baby Boomer workers in 2024. Gen Zers make up 18% of the workforce, and Baby Boomers made up 15% of the workforce as of Q1 2024. Millennials continued to represent the largest proportion of the workforce at 36%, while Gen X were at 31% and the Silent Generation at 1%. [3] Department of Labor, "Changes in the U.S. Labor Supply" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/opder/DASP/Trendlines/posts/2024_08/Trendlines_August_2024.html
Gen Z workers earn $2,991 per month on average
When asked how much they earn per month, more than half of Gen Z respondents (58%) said between $2,000 and $5,000, with the most common earnings being $4,000 - $5,000. The average amount across all respondents in this age range was $2,991 per month, equating to $35,892 annually.
| How much Gen Z workers earn per month | |
|---|---|
| How much Gen Z workers earn per month | Percentage of respondents |
| 0.0% | |
| $0/not employed | 0.35% |
| $1-$500 | 1.81% |
| $501-$1,000 | 1.87% |
| $1,001-$2,000 | 2.99% |
| $2,001-$3,000 | 3.57% |
| $3,001-$4,000 | 2.4% |
| $4,001-$5,000 | 44.32% |
| Income varies each month | 41.1% |
A small percentage of Gen Z respondents (3.5%) said that they feel their monthly earnings are not enough to support their current cost of living.
How does Gen Z view the workplace?
Work-life balance is most important for Gen Z workers
When asked about the most important things about their current job or jobs they apply for, 87.5% of Gen Z said work-life balance was one of the most important aspects. This was followed by company culture (83.1%) and making friends (75.6%).
More than seven in ten (71.3%) said that salary was one of the most important things they consider when looking for a new job.
Only 0.5% of Gen Z workers said they prioritize remote work when looking for a job. Recent research from another study by Gallup found that only 23% of remote-capable Gen Z said they would prefer a fully remote job, compared to 35% of people across all other generations. [4] Gallup, "Fully Remote Work Least Popular with Gen Z" https://www.gallup.com/workplace/692675/fully-remote-work-least-popular-gen-z.aspx
| The most important things Gen Z look for in a job | |
|---|---|
| The most important things Gen Z look for in a job | Percentage of respondents |
| Work-life balance | 87.5% |
| Company culture | 83.1% |
| Making friends | 75.6% |
| Salary | 71.3% |
| Flexibility | 50.4% |
| Job satisfaction | 3.2% |
| Job security | 2.7% |
| Opportunities for progression | 1.5% |
| Benefits (health insurance, paid leave etc.) | 1.3% |
| Remote work | 0.5% |
Data note: Respondents could choose more than one option.
Gen Z’s salary expectations are around $70k
When asked what their salary expectations would be when looking for a new job, the average expectation was $70,790. Most Gen Z respondents (28.8%) said they would look for between $60,000 and $80,000, while just over a quarter (25.9%) said they would expect $40,000 - $60,000.
| Gen Z’s salary expectations when searching for a job | |
|---|---|
| Gen Z’s salary expectations when searching for a job | Percentage of Gen Z respondents |
| Under $20,000 | 2.1% |
| $20,000-$40,000 | 11.3% |
| $40,000-$60,000 | 25.9% |
| $60,000-$80,000 | 28.8% |
| $80,000-$100,000 | 17.7% |
| $100,000-$150,000 | 13.4% |
| Over $150,000 | 0.7% |
A different study in 2023 from Handshake found that Gen Z graduates defined $82k as a high starting salary. Most respondents said a “high” starting salary would make them more likely to apply for a job, but two-thirds said their idea of a “high” starting salary was still under $100k as of 2023, though this may have changed in the three years since. [5] Handshake, "Gen Z Salary Transparency" https://joinhandshake.com/network-trends/gen-z-salary-transparency/
43.3% of Gen Z workers are satisfied with their job
The highest proportion of respondents (34.3%) said they were satisfied with their job, while 9% said they were very satisfied. Just over a quarter (26.6%) of Gen Zers said they were very unsatisfied with their current job.
However, more than half (56.7%) of Gen Z respondents said they felt unsatisfied in some way with their job.
| How satisfied Gen Z workers are with their jobs | |
|---|---|
| Satisfaction level | Percentage |
| Very satisfied | 9.0% |
| Reasonably satisfied | 34.3% |
| Unsatisfied | 30.1% |
| Very unsatisfied | 26.6% |
70.4% of Gen Z workers feel stressed at work
Alongside most Gen Z workers feeling unsatisfied with their jobs, many workers also felt negative emotions relating to work. 70.4% said they felt stressed at work, and 46.1% reported feeling anxious about work. The majority of Gen Zers (85.3%) also said they feel burnt out at work at least once a year.
However, many Gen Zers reported feeling positive emotions about work, including feeling inspired (69%), happy (62.4%), and proud (32%).
| Emotions Gen Z employees feel at work | |
|---|---|
| Emotions Gen Z employees feel at work | Percentage of respondents |
| Stressed | 70.4% |
| Inspired | 69.0% |
| Happy | 62.4% |
| Anxious | 46.1% |
| Proud | 32.0% |
| Valued | 2.5% |
| Sad | 1.5% |
| Angry | 1.1% |
| Indifferent | 1.0% |
Data note: Respondents were able to choose more than one option.
Gen Z and AI in the workplace
When asked about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), 97.5% said they use some form of AI tool in their job role; this is much higher compared to other generations (60.4%) in the survey.
The most common reason Gen Zers use AI at work is for content creation and writing (85.9%), followed by data analysis (85.2%).
| How Gen Z workers use AI for their job | |
|---|---|
| AI use case | Percentage |
| Content creation and writing | 85.9% |
| Data analysis | 85.2% |
| Workflow automation and productivity | 77.3% |
| Coding and development | 66.6% |
| Generating ideas | 49.2% |
| Problem solving | 1.7% |
| I don't use AI at work | 1.6% |
Other generations’ opinions of Gen Z at work
Workers from other generational groups (19.1% of respondents in the survey) were asked about their opinions of Gen Z in the workplace, including their performance and attitudes towards work.
Most workers have a positive view of Gen Z in the workplace
More than two-thirds (69%) of workers from all age groups say that their Gen Z coworkers are friendly, while 68.4% say they are hardworking, and 47.4% say they are confident.
Some stereotypes have branded Gen Z as lazy because they may work remotely more often, or prioritize work-life balance. [6] The Politic, "Gen Z and the Label of Laziness" https://thepolitic.org/gen-z-and-the-label-of-laziness
However, only 2.9% of survey respondents think their Gen Z coworkers are lazy, but 29.1% think they are uncommitted.
| How workers from other generations view Gen Z in the workplace | |
|---|---|
| Perception | Percentage of respondents |
| Friendly | 69% |
| Hardworking | 68.4% |
| Unfocused | 53.1% |
| Confident | 47.4% |
| Uncommitted | 29.1% |
| Ambitious | 5.3% |
| Performing well | 4.3% |
| Lazy | 2.9% |
| Performing poorly | 0.9% |
| I don’t have any Gen Z coworkers | 1.2% |
Data note: Respondents were able to choose up to three answers.
Additionally, 70.5% of workers surveyed think their Gen Z colleagues perform better than workers from other generations, and 88.4% think Gen Z workers make good managers.
However, of all respondents, including Gen Z workers, 64.6% said their Gen Z coworkers are often late to work.
How Gen Z workers compare to other generations
The majority of workers surveyed in all age groups (98.3%) said they enjoy interacting with coworkers in different age ranges from their own, but how do other generations' feelings about work compare to Gen Z’s?
29.4% of Gen Zers are motivated by job security
Adults from all generations were asked about their main motivation for going to work. The most common answer among Gen Z respondents was job security, with 29.4% choosing this as their biggest motivation, followed by the people they work with (28%).
In comparison, respondents in the Millennial, Gen X, and Baby Boomer age groups were less focused on job security (3%), and more motivated by getting paid (50.3%), and developing skills and experience (16.2%).
| Gen Z’s motivation for going to work compared to other generations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Motivation | Gen Z | Other generations |
| Job security | 29.4% | 3.0% |
| The people you work with | 28.0% | 3.0% |
| Feeling a sense of achievement | 27.8% | 3.0% |
| Making a difference | 5.6% | 7.2% |
| Climbing the career ladder | 3.0% | 8.4% |
| Getting paid | 2.8% | 50.3% |
| Passion for your work | 2.0% | 9.0% |
| Developing skills and experience | 1.3% | 16.2% |
Most workers feel some loyalty to their employer
This survey found that Gen Z’s loyalty to employers is almost the same as that of older generations. 96.6% of Gen Z workers said they feel loyal to their employer, compared to 68.5% of people in other generations.
| The percentage of workers who feel loyal to their employer | |
|---|---|
| Generation | Percentage |
| Gen Z | 96.6% |
| Other generations | 68.5% |
One-third of Gen Z prefer to work remotely than in-person or hybrid
Gen Z workers prefer remote work slightly over going into the office or having a hybrid schedule, as 36.4% say working remotely would be their first choice, though the figures for each type of work are fairly similar. Workers from other generations prefer a mix of in-person and remote work (43.5%).
| How employees prefer to work | ||
|---|---|---|
| Work preference | Gen Z | Other generations |
| In-person | 31.9% | 22.6% |
| Mix of both/hybrid | 31.7% | 43.5% |
| Remotely | 36.4% | 33.9% |
Gen Zers feel more guilty about calling in sick
Most workers surveyed said they feel guilty when they call in sick for work, but Gen Z workers are more likely to feel guilty (53.4% compared to 38.1% for other generations).
This reflects another survey in 2023 from Bamboo HR, which found that 64% of workers feel negative emotions like stress, anxiety, guilt, and fear when calling in sick. [7] Bamboo HR, "Why U.S. Workers Don't Take Sick Leave" https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/sick-guilt-2023
| The percentage of workers who feel guilty about calling in sick for work | ||
|---|---|---|
| Response | Gen Z | Other generations |
| Yes | 53.4% | 38.1% |
| No | 2.2% | 29.8% |
| Sometimes | 44.4% | 32.1% |
Do workers agree with Gen Z stereotypes?
People of all generations were asked whether they believe some common Gen Z stereotypes to be true.
72.4% think Gen Zers change jobs a lot
The most common assumption that people agree with is that Gen Zers are always changing jobs, with 72.4% of all respondents agreeing with this stereotype. A 2023 study by Resume Lab also found that 83% of Gen Z workers consider themselves to be job-hoppers who frequently look for new opportunities. [8] Resume Lab, "83% of Generation Z Workers Are Job Hoppers" https://resumelab.com/career-advice/generation-z-and-work
Other common assumptions people agree with when it comes to Gen Z are that they only care about salary (70.6%) and they are always on their phones (64.8%)
| Gen Z worker stereotypes people believe are true | |
|---|---|
| Stereotype | Percentage |
| They are always changing jobs | 72.4% |
| They only care about salary | 70.6% |
| They are always on their phones | 64.8% |
| They only want to work remotely | 52.6% |
| They don’t want to work | 6.1% |
| They are lazy | 3.1% |
| They are disrespectful | 1.7% |
| All of the above | 3.5% |
While people do agree with certain stereotypes about Gen Z, 69.6% said they believe many of these stereotypes are exaggerated.
Methodology
A survey of 1,881 adults was carried out in March 2026 on behalf of Self Financial to find out about Gen Z’s opinions on work, and other generations’ views on Gen Z in the workplace.
The breakdown of respondents was as follows:
Gender:
- Female: 70.4%
- Male: 29.4%
Age Group:
- Gen Z: 80.9%
- Millennial: 13.9%
- Gen X: 4.3%
- Baby Boomer: 0.8%
- Silent Generation: 0.1%
Sources
- [1] NaceWeb, "Generation Z in the Workplace" https://www.naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/student-attitudes/generation-z-in-the-workplace
- [2] Britannica, "Gen Z" https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-Z
- [3] Department of Labor, "Changes in the U.S. Labor Supply" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/opder/DASP/Trendlines/posts/2024_08/Trendlines_August_2024.html
- [4] Gallup, "Fully Remote Work Least Popular with Gen Z" https://www.gallup.com/workplace/692675/fully-remote-work-least-popular-gen-z.aspx
- [5] Handshake, "Gen Z Salary Transparency" https://joinhandshake.com/network-trends/gen-z-salary-transparency/
- [6] The Politic, "Gen Z and the Label of Laziness" https://thepolitic.org/gen-z-and-the-label-of-laziness
- [7] Bamboo HR, "Why U.S. Workers Don't Take Sick Leave" https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/sick-guilt-2023
- [8] Resume Lab, "83% of Generation Z Workers Are Job Hoppers" https://resumelab.com/career-advice/generation-z-and-work
