THE STATE OF GEN Z® 2025
A BREAKTHROUGH NATIONAL STUDY TO SEPARATE MYTH FROM TRUTH ABOUT GEN Z AS WORKFORCE TRENDSETTERS AND AMBASSADORS OF CHANGE
The State of Gen Z® 2025 Study:
A Breakthrough National Study to Separate Myth from Truth About
Gen Z as Workforce Trendsetters
and Ambassadors of Change
the STATE OF GEN Z® 2025
THE FUTure of work is here—and it looks a lot like gen z
Gen Z is changing how work works. This year’s State of Gen Z® reveals what truly earns Gen Z’s commitment, what pushes them away, and how flexibility, benefits, and well-being are rewriting yesterday’s rules of what makes a workplace truly worth committing to.
This emerging generation is confident, ambitious, highly perceptive, and surprisingly loyal…but they’re also willing to walk away from a job when trust and culture don’t meet their needs. In fact, a significant number already have. Forty-seven percent of working Gen Z say they have quit a job because of a lack of trust in their company leadership. For leaders, this reality isn’t a threat—it’s a roadmap for opportunity to unlock the immense value this generation brings to the workplace.
If you hire, lead, or have Gen Z team members, this year’s State of Gen Z® report is your competitive edge. The study goes inside their expectations and behavioral drivers—on trust, career paths, leadership preferences, hybrid vs. on‑site work, and mental health—so you can confidently drive measurable results in unlocking their workforce performance.
Here’s just a glimpse of the many discoveries about Gen Z in the national study:
- 48% of working Gen Z are actively looking for a new job or a different job outside of their current employer right now. What is pushing them to leave? The study shares valuable clues.
- 45% of working Gen Z say they’d take a 10% pay cut to work for a boss they completely trust. The study reveals the qualities that make a leader truly trustworthy.
- 37% of working Gen Z would prioritize remote work over health insurance. The State of Gen Z® 2025 reveals insights into work experience preferences not available in other data.
- 82% of working Gen Z believe companies should place greater priority on offering mental health benefits to employees. Learn what benefits matter most in this year’s State of Gen Z® study!
- And numerous other must-know questions!
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The State of Gen Z® 2025 Report:
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below are a few of the many findings from the study:
53% of working Gen Z
say the workplace feels more stressful today than it did five years ago.
47% of working Gen Z
have already quit a job due to lack of trust in leadership.
42% of working Gen Z
believe they could do their manager’s job better than their manager.
65% of Gen Z
believe most companies will eventually require the majority of their employees to work on-site at least four days per week.
The State of Gen Z® 2021-2022 Report: Gen Z as Employees and Trendsetters
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THE STATE OF GEN Z® 2025: Insights Overview
A Breakthrough National Study to Separate Myth from Truth About Gen Z as Workforce Trendsetters and Ambassadors of Change
Gen Z is entering the workforce at full speed, and their impact is unmistakable. They’re reshaping what benefits mean, how leadership is judged, and how long people are willing to stay when trust and culture don’t align.
The 2025 State of Gen Z® makes clear that the levers leaders once relied on are shifting. Flexibility now rivals pay. Well-being has shifted from perk to expectation—especially as 53% of Gen Z say the workplace feels more stressful today than it did just five years ago. And loyalty is no longer guaranteed by strict policies or inspirational slogans, it’s earned through authenticity and trust. This year’s findings reveal how these shifts are influencing Gen Z’s daily choices at work—and the steps leaders can take to build trust and retention.
But Gen Z’s perspective goes even deeper. A majority don’t believe a college degree is necessary to become a manager, and many are confident they could already do their boss’s job better. While it’s easy to assume these views come from arrogance, our study shows they more often reflect a generation eager for opportunity, advancement, and leaders who invest in their potential to clear the way forward.
At the same time, disconnects are showing. Gen Z often feels their managers see work differently than they do, whether it’s about flexibility, culture, or career growth. That misalignment matters—nearly half have already left a job because they lost trust in leadership. These perception gaps can create frustration, but they also highlight where leaders have the greatest opportunity to connect and build trust with this dynamic generation.
The stakes are high for organizations—but so is the upside. Gen Z is showing exactly what they value and how they measure leadership, loyalty, and more. Organizations that lean into these insights won’t just keep Gen Z longer—they’ll unlock a generation ready to bring energy, innovation, and momentum to the entire workplace.
KEY QUESTIONS THIS YEAR’S REPORT ANSWERS:
- What makes nearly half of Gen Z ready to leave their job—and what can stop them?
- How do remote, hybrid, and on-site experiences change what Gen Z values in a job?
- Which benefits and policies now move the needle most on employee retention (hint: it’s not just pay)?
- Where are Gen Z and leaders seeing the workplace differently—and how can those gaps be bridged?
- What practical steps can leaders take this quarter to boost engagement without raising salary budgets?
- Plus, numerous other essential questions!
“Gen Z brings tremendous promise, potential, and a new perspective to the workforce. Separating myth from truth about the generation is key to unlocking their potential. It was incredibly exciting to see all the discoveries we found in this year’s State of Gen Z®. I’m excited for the discoveries to impact leaders and organizations around the world.”
—Denise Villa, PhD, CEO, The Center for Generational Kinetics; Co-Author of Zconomy
If the above discoveries and strategic questions resonate with your organization, you’re not alone—leaders everywhere are grappling with them. But the answers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Many leaders want to dig deeper into how the findings apply to their own teams, industries, and cultures. That’s why The Center for Generational Kinetics CGK partners with organizations to go beyond the data, applying these insights to your workforce through custom research studies, executive and leadership advisory sessions, and tailored presentations that spark action and alignment.
Ready to transform these national findings into strategies tailored for your organization? Contact us at Info@GenHQ.com or +1 (512) 259-6877 to explore how your leaders can engage Gen Z—and turn insights into measurable results.
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download your free study now:
The State of Gen Z® 2025 Report:
Enter your info below to receive the complete 36-page research study findings report
CGK's Research Informs Global Conversation
ABOUT THE STUDY / METHODOLOGY
The Center for Generational Kinetics remains the leader in uncovering how generations shape the future of work, communication, and consumer trends. With more than 150 generational studies conducted across four continents, CGK has built an unmatched reputation for delivering insights that executives, people leaders, and policymakers can immediately apply. Our experts have been featured in leading media outlets from The Today Show to The New York Times, and work with global organizations to share actionable discoveries about all generations, including Gen Z—the fastest-growing and most influential generation in the workforce and marketplace today.
Each year, CGK conducts The State of Gen Z® national research study to provide leaders with timely, statistically accurate insights into this generation’s mindset and behaviors. The 2025 edition explores Gen Z’s views on trust, leadership, benefits, mental health, education, and career expectations—revealing both the challenges and opportunities leaders face in today’s rapidly shifting workplace.
This year’s study included 768 Gen Z participants, ages 18–28, all employed part-time or full-time, to capture a true snapshot of “Gen Z Working America.” The sample was weighted to align with the 2020 U.S. Census for age, gender, geography, and ethnicity. The research was fielded online from December 4–14, 2024, with results statistically significant at the 95% confidence level and a margin of error of +/-3.54%.
As Gen Z advances deeper into adulthood, the State of Gen Z 2025® provides leaders with the clearest view yet of how this generation is reshaping the workforce and redefining what it means to build trust, loyalty, and engagement across teams and organizations.
“Gen Z is driving workforce trends across every aspect of organizations today. This generation is impacting recruiting, retention, communication, innovation, trust, and so much more. This year’s State of Gen Z highlights actionable insights and many unexpected discoveries that leaders at all levels can use to inform their workforce and people strategies right away. I’m especially excited about the generational views to mental health, benefits, and trust!”
—Jason Dorsey, President, The Center for Generational Kinetics; Co-Author of Zconomy
UNLOCKING GEN Z INSIGHTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR LEADERS ACROSS GENERATIONS
The Center for Generational Kinetics has led the field in generational and behavioral research for more than a decade, leading over 150 original, statistically accurate studies across four continents. Our work spans industries from global finance and healthcare to technology, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and beyond—always with one goal: helping leaders turn data into measurable results.
This year’s State of Gen Z delivers findings every organization needs to know. From what keeps Gen Z loyal to what pushes them to walk away, from the benefits they value most to the gaps they see in leadership, this report reveals the forces reshaping the workforce right now—and why leaders can’t afford to wait to respond. The leaders who act on these insights will not only keep Gen Z engaged—they’ll gain a decisive advantage across their multigenerational teams.
The opportunity is here—to strengthen trust, adapt benefits, and create cultures that unlock Gen Z’s energy, innovation, and commitment—and this year’s report is your blueprint. Download the State of Gen Z 2025 full report today. Then let’s explore how these insights can be applied directly to your organization: through a custom research study you exclusively own, strategic advisory sessions with our generational experts, or a keynote or half-day program that equips your leaders with practical strategies to thrive in today’s workplace.
Contact us now at Info@GenHQ.com or +1 (512) 259-6877 to get started.
Want even more info on generation z? Check out zconomy
At CGK, we are passionate about unlocking the potential of Gen Z as they emerge as workforce, customer, and community trendsetters. Check out our bestselling book, Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business, for all the insights and how-to strategies to unlock this exciting generation’s potential at this critical time.
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