Work statistics
Gen Z Workforce Statistics 2026
This page gathers current figures on Gen Z at work: how many young people have jobs, how often they are unemployed, what they earn and worry about, and how they use and view AI. Each number links to the agency or survey publisher that released it. Most data cover the US in 2026, with Deloitte's global survey and ILO figures adding an international view.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 2, 2026 · Next review by December 17, 2026
52 of 52 source quotes re-checked against the original pages on November 3, 2026
- Figures
- 52
- Primary sources
- 13
- Official or research
- 42%
- Charts
- 5
Key takeaways
- 9.1%The US youth unemployment rate was 9.1% in July 2026, down from 10.8% in July 2025.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 8.0%Americans ages 20 to 24 had an unemployment rate of 8.0% in September 2026, down from 9.2% in September 2025.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 42.5%42.5% of recent US college graduates were underemployed in the third quarter of 2026, meaning they worked in jobs that typically do not require a degree.Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- 47%47% of Gen Zs report living paycheck to paycheck, down from 52% in 2025.Deloitte Global
- 74%74% of Gen Zs report using AI in their day-to-day work, up from 57% in the previous year's survey.Deloitte Global
- 73%73% of US adults under 30 say AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years, up from 61% in 2024.Pew Research Center
Research overview
What the numbers say
Young Americans are working at about the same rate as a year ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found 53.8% of 16 to 24 year olds employed in July 2026 and a labor force participation rate of 59.1%, both close to 2025 levels. A quarter of employed young people work in leisure and hospitality, so their jobs track consumer demand closely. The summer youth unemployment rate fell to 9.1% from 10.8%, an improvement, but the monthly data still show teenagers at 14.5% and 20 to 24 year olds at 8.0% in September, against 4.2% for all workers.
Graduates are not immune. The New York Fed put the unemployment rate for recent college graduates at 5.2% in the third quarter of 2026, above the national average, and 42.5% of recent graduates worked in jobs that typically do not need a degree. The ILO reports the same pattern worldwide: youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025 while the adult rate fell to 3.6%, and the sharpest rises came in higher-income regions such as Northern America, where the youth rate climbed from 8.3% to 9.8%.
Money shapes most Gen Z career decisions. In Deloitte's 2026 survey of more than 22,500 Gen Zs and millennials, cost of living was the top concern for the fifth year running, 47% of Gen Zs said they live paycheck to paycheck, and 55% had delayed major life decisions. Nearly 30% hold a side job, mostly for the income. Mental health improved, with 63% rating theirs as good, but 47% still report burnout and 71% say they needed time off for stress.
AI is now part of daily work for most young employees, and their views of it are cooling. Deloitte found 74% of Gen Zs using AI in their day-to-day work, up from 57% a year earlier. Yet Gallup found 48% of employed Gen Zers saying AI's risks in the workforce outweigh its benefits, and Pew found 73% of adults under 30 expecting AI to mean fewer jobs. Young workers are adopting the tools while worrying about what they will do to entry-level careers.
01
Youth employment and labor force participation
- 153.8%53.8%
53.8% of Americans ages 16 to 24 were employed in July 2026, little changed from 53.1% a year earlier.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 221.3 million21.3 million
There were 21.3 million employed 16 to 24 year olds in the US in July 2026.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 32.1 million2.1 million
The US youth labor force grew by 2.1 million between April and July 2026, reaching 23.5 million as students and graduates looked for work.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 459.1%59.1%
The labor force participation rate for Americans ages 16 to 24 was 59.1% in July 2026, compared with 59.5% a year earlier.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 561.1%61.1%
Young men ages 16 to 24 had a labor force participation rate of 61.1% in July 2026, compared with 57.2% for young women.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 625%25%
Leisure and hospitality employed 25% of working 16 to 24 year olds in July 2026, about 5.3 million young people.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
What these figures suggest
About 21.3 million Americans ages 16 to 24 had a job in July 2026, the summer peak for youth work, and 53.8% of the age group was employed. Participation was close to its 2025 level, so the summer job market for young people neither boomed nor collapsed. Most young workers are still concentrated in hospitality and retail, which makes their employment sensitive to consumer spending.
02
Youth unemployment in the US
Chart
US unemployment rate by age, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted BLS household survey data, table A-10, September 2026.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, September 2026
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 16 to 19 | 14.5% |
| 20 to 24 | 8% |
| 25 to 34 | 4.3% |
| 35 to 44 | 3.3% |
| 45 to 54 | 3% |
| 55 and over | 2.6% |
Chart
US youth unemployment rate in July, ages 16 to 24, 2023 to 2026
July is the summer peak for youth employment. Data are not seasonally adjusted.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 10.8% |
| 2026 | 9.1% |
- 79.1%9.1%
The US youth unemployment rate was 9.1% in July 2026, down from 10.8% in July 2025.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 82.1 million2.1 million
The number of unemployed Americans ages 16 to 24 rose by 322,000 between April and July 2026, to 2.1 million.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 97 in 107 in 10
About 7 in 10 unemployed young people were looking for full-time work in July 2026.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 1012.0%12.0%
Black youth had an unemployment rate of 12.0% in July 2026, compared with 9.4% for young women overall and 11.0% for Asian youth.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 1114.5%14.5%
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for US teenagers was 14.5% in September 2026.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, September 2026Oct 2026
- 128.0%8.0%
Americans ages 20 to 24 had an unemployment rate of 8.0% in September 2026, down from 9.2% in September 2025.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, September 2026Oct 2026
- 134.2%4.2%
The overall US unemployment rate was 4.2% in September 2026, less than half the rate for workers ages 20 to 24.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, September 2026Oct 2026
What these figures suggest
Young Americans face unemployment rates two to three times the national average. The summer youth rate fell to 9.1% in July 2026 from 10.8% in 2025, but the September monthly data show 20 to 24 year olds at 8.0% and teenagers at 14.5%, against 4.2% for all workers. Most unemployed young people want full-time work, not just summer jobs.
03
Recent graduates and entry-level work
- 145.2%5.2%
The unemployment rate for recent US college graduates fell to 5.2% in the third quarter of 2026, its lowest level in more than a year.
IndustryFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkThe Labor Market for Recent College Graduates2026
- 1542.5%42.5%
42.5% of recent US college graduates were underemployed in the third quarter of 2026, meaning they worked in jobs that typically do not require a degree.
IndustryFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkThe Labor Market for Recent College Graduates2026
- 1623%23%
23% of Gen Z and millennial respondents say AI is leading their companies to create new entry-level roles.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 1720%20%
20% of Gen Z workers say their organizations are scaling back entry-level roles because of AI.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 1867%67%
Non-college-bound US students who took career-oriented classes were far more likely to feel prepared for their future, 67% compared with 40%.
IndustryGallup and Walton Family Foundation2026 Voices of Gen Z Study press releaseAug 2026
What these figures suggest
A college degree still lowers the risk of unemployment, but the first step after graduation has become harder. The New York Fed put recent graduate unemployment at 5.2% in the third quarter of 2026, above the national rate, and more than four in ten recent graduates work in jobs that do not require a degree. Young workers see AI cutting both ways on entry-level roles, with some employers adding them and others scaling back.
04
Money pressure and side jobs
Chart
Top concerns among Gen Z, 2026
Share of Gen Z respondents in Deloitte's global survey of more than 22,500 Gen Zs and millennials in 44 countries.
Source Deloitte Global, 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of living | 38% |
| Crime and personal safety | 19% |
| Unemployment | 19% |
| Mental health of my generation | 18% |
| Political instability | 16% |
- 1938%38%
Cost of living was the top concern for 38% of Gen Z respondents in 2026, far ahead of crime and unemployment.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 2047%47%
47% of Gen Zs report living paycheck to paycheck, down from 52% in 2025.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 2134%34%
34% of Gen Zs say they struggle to pay all of their living expenses each month.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 2255%55%
55% of Gen Zs say they have delayed major life decisions such as starting a family or launching a business because of their finances.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 2369%69%
69% of Gen Zs say housing availability or affordability directly affects their career decisions and where they can work.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 2453%53%
53% of Gen Zs expect their personal financial situation to improve within the next year.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 2530%30%
Nearly 30% of Gen Zs have a part-time or full-time side job in addition to their primary role.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 2644%44%
44% of Gen Zs with a side job say they have it out of financial necessity.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
What these figures suggest
Cost of living is the top worry for Gen Z for the fifth year running in Deloitte's global survey, and nearly half live paycheck to paycheck. Financial strain is changing life timelines, with a majority delaying big decisions and saying housing costs shape where they can work. Side jobs are common, and most of the Gen Z workers who have one say they need the money.
05
Stress, burnout and mental health
- 2763%63%
63% of Gen Zs rated their overall mental health as good or extremely good in 2026, up from 52% in 2025.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalMental health at work: Insights from Deloitte Global's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyOct 2026
- 2847%47%
47% of Gen Zs report feeling burned out.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalMental health at work: Insights from Deloitte Global's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyOct 2026
- 2934%34%
34% of Gen Zs say they feel anxious or stressed most or all of the time, down from 40% in 2025.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalMental health at work: Insights from Deloitte Global's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyOct 2026
- 3071%71%
71% of Gen Zs say they needed to take time off work due to stress, but only 41% did so.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalMental health at work: Insights from Deloitte Global's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyOct 2026
- 3158%58%
58% of Gen Zs say they regularly experience digital fatigue.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalMental health at work: Insights from Deloitte Global's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyOct 2026
What these figures suggest
Gen Z mental health improved between 2025 and 2026 in Deloitte's data, with 63% rating it good, up from 52%. Burnout and stress are still widespread, and a large gap remains between workers who felt they needed time off for stress and those who took it. Digital fatigue from constant alerts and tool switching affects more than half of Gen Z respondents.
06
Career goals, purpose and job expectations
- 326%6%
Only 6% of Gen Zs and millennials say achieving a leadership position is their primary career goal.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 3344%44%
44% of Gen Zs favor steady career progress, compared with 25% who prefer rapid promotions.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 3476%76%
76% of Gen Zs say they are interested in pursuing senior leadership roles at some point in their careers.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 3596%96%
96% of Gen Zs say having a sense of purpose at work is important to their job satisfaction and well-being.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 3640%40%
About 40% of Gen Zs and millennials have rejected a potential employer based on their personal ethics or beliefs.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 3754%54%
54% of Gen Zs say their current job is mostly or completely aligned with their values.
IndustryDeloitte Global2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report)May 2026
- 3872%72%
Eight in 10 young Americans hope their future job will focus on helping others, and 72% say helping others outside of work is important.
IndustryWalton Family FoundationGallup Research: For Gen Z, Meaningful Work Matters, but So Do Pay and StabilityJun 2026
What these figures suggest
Gen Z wants steady progress more than fast promotion. Only 6% name a leadership position as their primary career goal, yet 76% would like a senior role at some point. Purpose matters to nearly all of them, and about 40% have turned down an employer or assignment on ethical grounds, though Gallup's research shows pay and stability count too.
07
AI use and attitudes among young workers
Chart
US adults ages 18 to 29 who are more concerned than excited about AI, 2021 to 2026
Pew Research Center surveys of US adults; the 2026 survey was conducted June 22 to 28, 2026.
Source Pew Research Center, Young adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 31% |
| 2022 | 29% |
| 2023 | 42% |
| 2024 | 39% |
| 2025 | 47% |
| 2026 | 55% |
Chart
How US Gen Zers feel about AI, 2026
Gallup Panel survey of 1,572 Americans ages 14 to 29, Feb. 24 to March 4, 2026. Curiosity was 49% and anxiety 42% in the same survey.
Source Gallup, Gen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism Climbs
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Curious | 49% |
| Anxious | 42% |
| Angry | 31% |
| Excited | 22% |
| Hopeful | 18% |
- 3974%74%
74% of Gen Zs report using AI in their day-to-day work, up from 57% in the previous year's survey.
IndustryDeloitte GlobalDeloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press releaseMay 2026
- 4051%51%
51% of US Gen Zers ages 14 to 29 use generative AI at least weekly, a share largely unchanged since 2025.
IndustryGallupGen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism ClimbsApr 2026
- 4148%48%
48% of employed Gen Zers say the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh its benefits, up from 37% a year earlier.
IndustryGallupGen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism ClimbsApr 2026
- 4269%69%
69% of Gen Z workers trust work completed without AI more than AI-assisted work, which 28% trust more.
IndustryGallupGen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism ClimbsApr 2026
- 4356%56%
56% of Gen Zers agree AI tools can help them complete work faster, down 10 points from 2025.
IndustryGallupGen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism ClimbsApr 2026
- 4455%55%
55% of US adults under 30 say they are more concerned than excited about AI, the first time a majority of this group has said so.
ResearchPew Research CenterYoung adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobsAug 2026
- 4573%73%
73% of US adults under 30 say AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years, up from 61% in 2024.
ResearchPew Research CenterYoung adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobsAug 2026
- 4623%23%
23% of US workers ages 18 to 29 used AI chatbots for work at least a few times a month in late 2024, the highest of any age group.
ResearchPew Research CenterWorkers' experience with AI chatbots in their jobsFeb 2025
What these figures suggest
AI use at work has jumped among young workers: 74% of Gen Zs in Deloitte's survey use it in their day-to-day work, up from 57% a year earlier. Attitudes have moved the other way. Gallup and Pew both find young Americans growing more skeptical, with a majority of adults under 30 now more concerned than excited about AI and 73% expecting it to mean fewer jobs.
08
Youth unemployment and NEET rates worldwide
- 4712.4%12.4%
The global youth unemployment rate rose to 12.4% in 2025, equal to 67 million unemployed people ages 15 to 24.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationYouth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent workAug 2026
- 4820%20%
20% of young people worldwide were not in employment, education or training in 2025, more than 257 million people.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationYouth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent workAug 2026
- 4927.4%27.4%
The NEET rate for young women worldwide was 27.4% in 2025, more than double the 13.1% rate for young men.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal Employment Trends for Youth 2026: Back to the futureAug 2026
- 509.8%9.8%
Youth unemployment in Northern America rose from 8.3% in 2023 to 9.8% in 2025.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationYouth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent workAug 2026
- 5115%15%
Youth unemployment in Northern, Southern and Western Europe was 15% in 2025.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationYouth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent workAug 2026
- 526.1%6.1%
6.1% of jobs held by people ages 15 to 29 worldwide are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationYouth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent workAug 2026
What these figures suggest
Global youth unemployment edged up to 12.4% in 2025 after reaching a two-decade low in 2023, according to the ILO. The rise was sharpest in some higher-income regions, including Northern America. One in five young people worldwide is not in employment, education or training, and young women are more than twice as likely as young men to be in that group.
About these figures
Figures come from government statistical agencies (BLS), a regional Federal Reserve bank, the ILO, Pew Research Center, Gallup and Deloitte's own survey report, and every quote was checked against the publisher's page. Age definitions differ: BLS youth data cover ages 16 to 24, Gallup defines Gen Z as ages 14 to 29, Pew reports adults 18 to 29, Deloitte surveys Gen Zs born 1995 to 2007 in 44 countries, and the ILO uses ages 15 to 24. Summer youth figures are not seasonally adjusted while monthly BLS rates are, so compare trends within a source rather than exact levels across sources.
Every figure was taken from the publisher's own page, together with the sentence it appears in, and that sentence is re-checked against the source before each update. Where a survey covers a specific group, the figure says so. Read the methodology. Spotted a problem? Email editorial@mojolin.com.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the unemployment rate for Gen Z?
It depends on age. In September 2026 the BLS reported a 14.5% unemployment rate for teenagers and 8.0% for 20 to 24 year olds, against 4.2% for all US workers. The summer rate for everyone ages 16 to 24 was 9.1% in July 2026.
+How many young Americans have a job?
About 21.3 million Americans ages 16 to 24 were employed in July 2026, or 53.8% of the age group. Their labor force participation rate was 59.1%.
+Is it harder for recent college graduates to find work?
Yes, compared with the overall labor market. The New York Fed put recent graduate unemployment at 5.2% in the third quarter of 2026, and 42.5% of recent graduates were underemployed in jobs that do not typically require a degree.
+How many Gen Z workers use AI at work?
Deloitte's 2026 survey found 74% of Gen Zs use AI in their day-to-day work, up from 57% a year earlier. Gallup found 51% of Americans ages 14 to 29 use generative AI at least weekly.
+What are Gen Z's biggest worries about work?
Money comes first. Cost of living was the top concern for 38% of Gen Zs in Deloitte's survey, 47% live paycheck to paycheck, and 47% report burnout. Pew found 73% of adults under 30 expect AI to lead to fewer jobs.
+How high is youth unemployment worldwide?
The ILO put the global youth unemployment rate at 12.4% in 2025, or 67 million people ages 15 to 24. Another measure, the share of young people not in employment, education or training, reached 20%.
Sources
13 primary sources, by publisher
- 01Industry Deloitte Global. 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (full report) (May 2026)
- 02Industry Deloitte Global. Deloitte 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey press release (May 2026)
- 03Industry Deloitte Global. Mental health at work: Insights from Deloitte Global's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey (Oct 2026)
- 04Industry Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates (2026)
- 05Industry Gallup. Gen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism Climbs (Apr 2026)
- 06Industry Gallup and Walton Family Foundation. 2026 Voices of Gen Z Study press release (Aug 2026)
- 07Official International Labour Organization. Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026: Back to the future (Aug 2026)
- 08Official International Labour Organization. Youth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent work (Aug 2026)
- 09Research Pew Research Center. Workers' experience with AI chatbots in their jobs (Feb 2025)
- 10Research Pew Research Center. Young adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs (Aug 2026)
- 11Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026 (Aug 2026)
- 12Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Employment Situation, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
- 13Industry Walton Family Foundation. Gallup Research: For Gen Z, Meaningful Work Matters, but So Do Pay and Stability (Jun 2026)