Gen Z Workers Report Record Low Holistic Health Amid Financial Stress

NEW YORK — Gen Z workers are struggling with their physical, mental, and financial health more than any other generation in the workforce, according to a new study by MetLife. The report, conducted in September and set for full publication in March, reveals a significant decline in holistic health among Gen Z employees, with only one in three reporting they feel holistically healthy.

“Gen Z is not necessarily doing well,” said Todd Katz, executive vice president of group benefits at MetLife. “Our study showed holistic health for all employee age groups is down a bit, but it’s down the most for Gen Z.” The study found a 6% drop in holistic health among Gen Z workers compared to last year, marking the largest decline among all age groups.

Gen Z employees, currently aged 11 to 26, reported feeling more stressed, depressed, burned out, and isolated than their counterparts in other generations. When compared to workers of the same age in 2018, Gen Z employees also reported feeling less successful, less engaged, and more anxious. Katz attributed much of this decline to financial pressures, stating, “These people are trying to save money for major life expenses when everything costs more.”

The findings align with other reports highlighting Gen Z’s financial struggles. A recent survey found that 38% of Gen Z workers are experiencing a “midlife crisis” due to financial stress. Additionally, one in 10 Gen Z workers have turned down job offers because of the cost of commuting or purchasing work attire. The study also revealed that 60% of Gen Z women and 45% of Gen Z men fear the high cost of living will hinder their future financial security.

Katz emphasized the need for employers to address these challenges by offering tailored benefits, such as student debt assistance, childcare support, pet insurance, and commuter benefits. “One of the biggest challenges we find is that even if you offer all the great benefits and workers sign up for them, if they don’t use them and have a great experience, their satisfaction is much lower,” he said.

The study underscores the growing generational divide in the workplace, with Gen Z workers facing unique pressures that differ from those of older generations. As Katz noted, “The population in the workplace is more diverse than ever, with multiple generations in the workforce, and people of different generations have different needs.”