Generation Maybe Later: Why European Youth is Delaying Important Decisions 0 12

Deloitte has presented the results of its annual survey, and the portrait of modern youth based on it looks like this: the average Zoomer and millennial is postponing home purchases and marriage, does not prioritize leadership, uses AI, and seeks balance. This is the global trend of Maybe Later.

Representatives of Generation Z and Y are rethinking the concept of success. While for many in the past the word "success" meant proving their abilities and prioritizing work, this idea is now taking a back seat. These conclusions were drawn by analysts from the consulting company Deloitte based on data from an annual survey involving 22,500 Zoomers (born between January 1995 and December 2007) and millennials (born between January 1983 and December 1994) from 44 countries, as well as qualitative interviews with business leaders.

This shift is particularly noticeable in attitudes toward leadership—only 6% say that achieving a leadership position is their main goal today. Many associate leadership roles with stress and burnout, excessive responsibility, and concerns about work-life balance. However, young people are not completely abandoning this goal—76% of Zoomers and 67% of millennials say they want to become leaders at some point in their careers. There are ambitions, but balance and well-being are more important.

For the fifth consecutive year, money remains the main issue for both generations. Financial pressure has led to a phenomenon that Deloitte calls Maybe Later: despite their ambitions, financial situations are pushing back the timelines for achieving important life goals. More than half of Generation Z (55%) and millennials (52%) say they are postponing starting a family, getting an education, or starting a business due to their financial situation. But despite the grim picture, hope for a bright future remains—53% of Generation Z and 45% of Y expect their personal financial situation to improve over the next year.

Deloitte also addressed the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) development. Nearly three-quarters of Zoomers and millennials (74%) use AI in their daily work, significantly more than last year (57% and 56%, respectively). Moreover, young people believe they are adapting to working with AI faster than their employers. At the same time, against the backdrop of increasingly active technology integration into work and life, respondents (58% of Zoomers and 54% of millennials) are facing digital fatigue caused by constant notifications, the need to switch, and the use of multiple platforms.

According to Deloitte's research, three-quarters of Zoomers and millennials worldwide are already using AI in their work, which is transforming from a simple tool into an equal partner, a navigator in life and career.