A recent study by the Nuremberg Institute for Employment Research (IAB) revealed that Generation Z in Germany is working harder than ever, defying stereotypes of laziness and entitlement. "The idea that Generation Z demands a lot but works little is a widespread prejudice. But it is wrong. Young people are as hardworking as they haven't been in a long time," said Enzo Weber, head of research at the IAB, according to Tagesschau.
According to the Münchner Merkur, the employment participation rate of Generation Z increased by six percentage points to 76% since 2015, based on data from the IAB of the Federal Employment Agency. This rise indicates a strong work ethic and a growing inclination towards work among young adults aged 20 to 24.
The increase is particularly notable among students. The employment rate among students aged 20 to 24 increased by over 19 percentage points to 56% between 2015 and 2023.
From 2015 to 2023, both part-time and full-time employment among 20- to 24-year-olds in Germany increased, with part-time employment rising more due to students increasingly taking on such roles. This trend suggests that more students are working alongside their studies, contributing to the rise in part-time employment among young adults.
Tagesschau noted that at the same time, the employment rate among all non-students in the 20- to 24-year-old age group increased by nearly 2 percentage points to almost 86%. According to T-Online, the share of full-time workers among young adults saw a modest increase from 46.8% to 47.1%.
"This finding contradicts common clichés about the lack of willingness to work of Generation Z, but fits with other generation-specific results," wrote Timon Hellwagner and Enzo Weber, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
"In view of the demographic changes in our society, we are more than ever dependent on the young generation," said Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus."That this generation is willing to roll up their sleeves deserves recognition and respect instead of polemical debates about Generation Z," Paus added.
The study focused exclusively on individuals with German citizenship because the share of young people due to refugee migration increased since 2015 and could distort the results, according to Tagesschau. Generation Z is commonly defined as people born between 1995 and 2010.
The Institute for Employment Research emphasized in its analysis that increased living costs may play a role in the trend of rising part-time employment among young adults. Many students are taking on side jobs to support themselves financially during their studies.
The IAB study is based on data from the Federal Employment Agency and the Microcensus for the years 2015 to 2023. The authors note that during this period, the participation rate of people aged 25 to 64 also increased, but only by 2.8 percentage points to 86.9%, indicating a relatively higher inclination towards work among the younger generation.
Münchner Merkur reported that Generation Z does not change jobs more frequently than previous generations, challenging another common stereotype about young workers being disloyal or unreliable. "Generation Z is often said to prioritize flexibility in working hours, and many people repeatedly claim that they do not want to work," the Frankfurter Allgemeine noted.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.