A seismic generational shift is underway, and its epicenter is Generation Z. Born from 1997 onward, Gen Z is coming of age in a world where traditional milestones like landing a lifelong job, buying a house in your twenties, or chasing wealth for its own sake have become difficult, or borderline impossible, in the modern economy. Gen Z has responded pragmatically, insisting, well, maybe they don’t really want those things anyway.
A massive new study from EY’s Generational Dynamics core team, spanning more than 10,000 young adults across 10 countries and five continents, finds Gen Z is often misunderstood—and their measured approach should define them as the “pragmatic generation.” The authors, Marcie Merriman and Zak Dychtwald, wrote Gen Z approaches “life’s traditional milestones” with a sort of “reasoned skepticism.”
