Gen Z Faces Declining Well-Being, Rising Financial Stress

A new study highlights significant drops in mental, financial, physical, and social health for Generation Z employees compared to other age groups.

MetLife's latest Employee Benefit Trends Study reveals a 6% decline in Generation Z's holistic health over the past year, the largest drop among all age groups surveyed.
Only 31% of Gen Z employees report feeling holistically healthy, significantly lower than the 41% average for other generations and 57% for baby boomers.
Key stressors for Gen Z include financial burdens, with 38% reporting a 'midlife crisis' and many citing the high cost of living as a barrier to future financial security.
Compared to workers of the same age in 2018, Gen Z employees feel more stressed, less happy, less engaged, and less successful, with 46% reporting stress and 35% experiencing depression.
Experts suggest employers can support Gen Z by offering targeted benefits such as student debt assistance, childcare support, and financial wellness programs, while improving communication about available resources.