Germany: Gen Z reports rising pessimism regarding economic and career prospects

Generation Z youth financial monitor career pessimism leadership development vocational training

Recent data from the Schufa Youth Financial Monitor reveals growing pessimism among Generation Z in Germany regarding their economic future. Only 40 percent of 16- to 25-year-olds believe they will achieve a standard of living equal to or higher than the previous generation, a significant drop from 72 percent in 2018. Additionally, only 52 percent believe they will have access to secure and good employment in the future, compared to 71 percent in 2018.

Despite this outlook, the survey indicates that many young people are satisfied with their current financial situation, with 68 percent reporting satisfaction. There is also a rising interest in financial education within schools.

In the labor market, studies suggest that young employees are not seeking special treatment but rather high-quality leadership. Key priorities for Gen Z include fair pay, a good working atmosphere, and job security. Experts suggest that effective leadership development should move beyond traditional seminars to focus on continuous learning through real-world challenges and feedback.

Meanwhile, statistics from Destatis show that the proportion of apprentices in Germany with a university entrance qualification (Abitur) slightly decreased to 26 percent in 2025 from 28 percent in 2015.

Entities

1LIVE · Destatis · Forsa · Germany · Ralf Overbeck · Schufa Holding · unspecified

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Companies should connect leadership development with concrete everyday professional challenges. www.mittelstandcafe.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Coaching, mentoring, and regular feedback help anchor new leadership behaviors sustainably. www.mittelstandcafe.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Real-world situations like difficult employee discussions or leading new teams serve as effective learning starting points. www.mittelstandcafe.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Sustainable leadership development requires applying impulses within the daily work environment rather than relying solely on seminar rooms. www.mittelstandcafe.de