A recent survey of Gen Z workers has found that many are struggling to cope with challenges they are facing in their careers, mainly when it comes to how it affects their mental health.
The survey comes from the Boston-based Mary Christie Institute and included responses from nearly 1,000 professionals in their 20s who hold bachelor’s degrees.
“Our findings show that once in the workplace, young people continue to struggle mentally and emotionally,” the survey shared.
The study found that of those who participated in the survey, more than half (51%) reported needing emotional or mental health support, and 53% said they experienced burnout at least once a week.
When asked about their work environment, 38% said they felt their work environment negatively impacted their mental health.
Other results showed that income and how much they make plays a massive role in mental health, with 46% saying they find their financial situation as always or often stressful. On top of that, 61% of those with financial stress rated their mental health as fair or poor.
Overall, 43% of respondents screened positive for anxiety and 31% for depression, with women reporting worse mental health than men.
Of those suffering from burnout, the report found that 42% don’t plan to stay at their job longer than a year, compared to 32% of Gen Z workers overall. For those burning out every week 23% said they will stay at their jobs for three or more years, compared to 32% of those who feel burn out monthly or less.
When asked about receiving mental health support from their employers, 82% of respondents said they would take part in mental health days, along with a majority being willing to utilize other programs for mental health.
Researchers shared in the report that while Gen Z workers are more likely to suffer from mental health issues, they also view it with less of a stigma, and are more willing to discuss it.
As the workforce continues to grow with Gen Z workers, employers may have to adjust as to how they support their workforce.
“As these graduates enter the workforce, their employers will continue to be met with new challenges in navigating how to best support their younger employees’ wellbeing and the health of their organizations overall,” the report found. “Employers may be unprepared for this new generation of workers as the rules around reporting and addressing mental health and wellbeing shift.”
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