GenZs and millennials prioritising GenAI training

Author Moonshot.news

Published on: 15/05/2025

Gen Zs and millennials are using GenAI more frequently and they are  prioritising training to boost their skills. They are seeing improvements in their work quality but concerns about GenAI’s impact on the workforce persist, according to a survey comprising more than 23,000 participants across 44 countries by consultancy Deloitte Global. Gen Z (born 1995-2012) and millennials (born 1980-1994) are projected to make up 74% of the global workplace by 2030,

74% of Gen Zs and 77% of millennials believe GenAI will impact the way they work within the next year and more than half of them already use GenAI in their day-to-day work, with 29% of Gen Zs and 30% of millennials using it all or most of the time.

GenAI users say that GenAI improves the quality of their work and their work/life balance. But more than six in 10 worry it will eliminate jobs and say it is motivating them to seek jobs that they think are safe from GenAI-driven disruption.

As they work alongside GenAI, more than eight in 10 say developing soft skills, like empathy and leadership, is even more important for career advancement than honing technical skills.

Other key findings:

• Gen Zs and millennials are focused on growth and learning, but they believe their managers are missing the mark on key areas of their development.
• Only 6% of Gen Zs say their primary career goal is to reach a senior leadership position.
• When asked about the factors driving their career decisions, Gen Zs and millennials say it comes down to money, meaning, and well-being.

“Gen Zs and millennials launched their careers in the shadow of a global pandemic and a financial crisis—events that respectively shaped their expectations of work and what success looks like,” says Elizabeth Faber, Deloitte Global Chief People & Purpose Officer.

“These generations prioritise work/life balance and meaningful work as they strive for financial stability. And now, as they navigate the way GenAI is changing work, they are reevaluating the capabilities they need to succeed and the support they want from their employers.”

The survey says Gen Zs prioritise career growth opportunities and learning when choosing an employer, but few want to reach senior leadership positions. 

• Only 6% of Gen Zs consider reaching a senior leadership position as a primary career goal, but they cite learning and development among the top three reasons they chose their current employer, just behind good work/life balance and opportunities to progress in their careers.
• Roughly half (50% of Gen Zs and 48% of millennials) want their managers to teach and mentor them, but only 36% of Gen Zs and 32% of millennials say this happens in reality. They also would like their managers to provide more guidance and support and to do more to inspire and motivate them.
• Around one-quarter expressed concerns about the relevance of the curriculum to the job market, and the practical experience it offers.
• 48% of Gen Zs (48%) and 46% of millennials say they do not feel financially secure, up from 30% of Gen Zs and 32% of millennials in last year’s survey. The survey data also reinforces that without financial security, Gen Zs and millennials are less likely to have a positive sense of mental well-being and less likely to feel their work is meaningful.