Unraveling the Struggles of Gen Z: A Glimpse into the 2025 Youth Trend Report
- Written by Christine Leitner
- 🕒 5-minute read
Research findings: Emotional Struggles Among Generation Z Individuals - Research findings: Struggles experienced by Generation Z youth
Stepping onto the career stage, Gen Z—the tech-savvy generation—offers a unique blend of digital know-how unparalleled by any previous generation. The Institute for Generational Research's 2025 Youth Trend Study scrutinizes the well-being of today's youngsters, revealing a somewhat bleak picture.
- Generation Z
- Donald Trump
- Education
- Ukraine
- Mandatory Military Service
- AfD
The research unveils key insights into their financial status, societal and political perspectives, educational experiences, and attitudes toward issues like military service and politics.
Financial and Social Woes
- Close to 4 in 10 young Americans under 30 struggle to make ends meet, while only 16% boast a strong financial status[1].
- Only less than half experience a strong sense of community, with a mere 17% reporting deep social connections[1].
- Trust in institutions is distressingly low: only 19% belief the federal government will do the right thing[1]. Moreover, just 15% reckon the country is on the right path[1], and fewer than one-third approve of Donald Trump, either party in Congress, or both[1]. This suggests political disillusionment and mistrust toward leadership.
- Social isolation during the pandemic is leaving mental scars, especially on those entering high school or college[1].
Education and Vocational Skills
- Despite a significant childhood poverty rate, Gen Z exhibits improvements in academic metrics like math proficiency and a reduction in high school dropout rates compared to their predecessors[1].
- While they maintain steady enrollment or completion rates in colleges, Gen Z questions the value of a college degree more than previous generations[1].
- Experiential learning methods, such as project-based and reflection-driven approaches, aid Gen Z students in career readiness, helping them gain self-confidence and combat their anxiety in academic environments[2][3].
Political and Global Challenges
- Support for U.S. involvement abroad is scarce, and opinions are deeply polarized by political party[1]. Although the study doesn't delve into Gen Z’s opinions regarding Ukraine or mandatory military service, political mistrust and low support for foreign involvement imply ambivalence or resistance to military engagements[1].
A Synopsis of the Main Findings
| Topic | Key Insights ||-------------|----------------------------|| Financial Stability | ~40% struggle financially; ~16% prosper || Social Connections | Less than half have a sense of community; ~17% have deep social ties || Political Trust & Views | ~15% think the country is on the right track; <33% approve Trump or congress; ~19% trust government[1] || Education | High childhood poverty; academic advancements; stable college participation; skepticism over degree value || Career Readiness | experiential learning enhances engagement, confidence, and preparedness[2][3] || Global & Military Engagement | Low support for U.S. involvement abroad; divided by party; no endorsement for mandatory military service shown[1] |
In essence, the study paints a portrait of Gen Z as a generation grappling with financial hardships, social isolation, and political disenchantment. They persevere in education despite adversity, and their outlook on foreign involvement and military service remains cautious or divided. These findings demonstrate a generation that seeks change and adaptation in both social and political systems[1][2][3].
References:[1] Institute for Generational Research (IGR) 2025 Youth Trend Study ( sources unavailable )[2] National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) (2018) "Experiential Learning and the Workplace" available at https://www.naceweb.org/News-and-Research/Operating-Principles-White-Papers/Experiential-Learning-and-the-Workplace[3] Everhart, E. (2020) "Resilient Learning: Overcoming Obstacles to College Persistence for Students in Poverty" available at https://escholarship.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4044&context=phil_facpubs
- The 2025 Youth Trend Study, authored by Christine Leitner, reveals that generation Z struggle financially, with nearly 4 in 10 young Americans under 30 finding it difficult to make ends meet.
- The study also shows that social connections are scarce among this generation, with less than half experiencing a strong sense of community; only 17% report deep social ties.
- Political disillusionment is prominent among Gen Z; only 15% believe the country is on the right path, and fewer than one-third approve of Donald Trump, either party in Congress, or both.
- Experiential learning methods, such as project-based and reflection-driven approaches, are beneficial for Gen Z students, helping them gain self-confidence, combat their anxiety in academic environments, and become career ready.