Overview
- On Tuesday, new analyses by the Institut für Arbeitsmarkt‑ und Berufsforschung (IAB) found the labour‑force participation rate for 20‑ to 24‑year‑olds rose by more than seven percentage points from 2015 to 2025 to about 77 percent.
- The IAB also reports that employment among 20‑ to 24‑year‑old students climbed to roughly 56 percent between 2015 and 2023, reflecting a sharp increase in students combining work and study.
- Labour researchers including Enzo Weber say these hard numbers contradict the widespread stereotype that Generation Z is unwilling to work and that young people change jobs no more often than older cohorts.
- Analysts link the persistent public perception to shifting expectations about job quality after the pandemic, citing greater demand for flexible hours, remote work options and better work‑life balance.
- Because many 15‑ to 24‑year‑olds remain in school or training, raw age‑group employment rates can mislead policy debate, and employers may need to adjust job offers to attract and retain young talent.