Gen Z and millennials put off marriage, homeownership and further study as cost of living bites, Deloitte finds

More than half of Gen Z and millennial workers worldwide say financial pressure has forced them to delay major life decisions such as getting married, starting a family, buying a home or pursuing further education, according to Deloitte's 2026 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey, published on Wednesday 13 May.

Fifty-five percent of Gen Z respondents and 52 percent of millennials said they were delaying major life decisions — including marriage, starting a family or a business, or furthering their education — because of their financial situation.

Now in its 15th year, the research draws on responses from more than 22,500 Gen Z and millennial respondents across 44 countries, alongside qualitative insights from business leaders. The survey was conducted online between 24 November 2025 and 15 January 2026.

Tunisia does not feature among the 44 countries in the sample, but the global findings map closely onto conditions at home. In the first quarter of 2026, youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 stood at 37.5 percent, according to Tunisia's Institut National de la Statistique (INS). The outlook for university graduates worsened over the same period, with their unemployment rate rising from 22.5 percent to 24.2 percent.

Cost of living, fifth year at the top

For the fifth consecutive year, cost of living remained the top concern for both generations, cited by 38 percent of Gen Z respondents and 42 percent of millennials, far exceeding worries about crime, unemployment, the environment or geopolitics.

Forty-seven percent of respondents from both groups said they live paycheck to paycheck, while 34 percent struggle to cover monthly living expenses. That figure marks an improvement: the share living paycheck to paycheck fell to 47 percent from 52 percent the previous year.

Housing affordability is directly influencing where workers can live and how they plan their careers. Sixty-nine percent of Gen Z and 64 percent of millennials said the availability or affordability of housing has a direct impact on their career decisions and where they can work.

Optimism persists despite the squeeze

Despite these pressures, financial optimism persists: 53 percent of Gen Z and 45 percent of millennials expect their personal financial situation to improve within the next year.

Interest in leadership remains widespread but not urgent. Only 6 percent of Gen Z and millennial respondents say achieving a leadership position is their primary career goal. Most favour steady progress — 44 percent of Gen Z and 45 percent of millennials — over rapid promotions, which attracted only 25 percent of Gen Z and 21 percent of millennials.

Elizabeth Faber, Deloitte Global Chief People & Purpose Officer, said the survey showed these generations were "adaptable, pragmatic and intentional about progress, even as economic pressures and rapid technological change raise the stakes."

Burnout and the AI gap

Nearly half of Gen Z respondents (48 percent) and millennials (45 percent) said they feel burned out. Roughly one third report feeling anxious or stressed most or all of the time.

Sixty-three percent of Gen Z and 66 percent of millennials now describe their mental health as good or very good, compared with 52 percent and 58 percent a year earlier — a notable improvement running alongside the persistent financial strain.

Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z and millennials (74 percent) report using AI in their day-to-day work, up sharply from 57 percent of Gen Z and 56 percent of millennials the previous year. They largely see AI as an accelerant rather than a threat, expecting it to free up time, improve output and create new opportunities for entry-level workers — but many feel they are adapting to AI faster than their organisations.

Only 54 percent of Gen Z and 60 percent of millennials said their teams could maintain performance if a key expert left the following day, with limited incentives, time constraints, confidentiality concerns and high turnover cited as barriers to effective knowledge sharing.

What it means for Tunisia

The Deloitte findings carry particular weight in a country where graduate unemployment has risen and youth joblessness has remained stubbornly high. Since 2022, youth unemployment in Tunisia has fluctuated between 36.8 percent and 41 percent, with no clear downward trend. Gender disparities among graduates are pronounced: the unemployment rate stands at 14.2 percent for male university graduates and 32 percent for female graduates.

For Tunisian employers and policymakers, the survey's core message — that younger workers are sequencing stability, skills and wellbeing before traditional milestones — points to a workforce that will not accept poor conditions simply because jobs are scarce. Globally, 69 percent of Gen Z and 64 percent of millennials say housing affordability affects where they can work , a constraint that feeds directly into the emigration calculations of many Tunisian graduates.

The full Deloitte 2026 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey is available at deloitte.com/genzmillennialsurvey.