Younger workers are most optimistic and ambitious, but demand more from employers 

Gen Z professionals are entering the workforce with high levels of motivation and optimism about their careers – but they also expect more support and action from employers to help them achieve their ambitions, according to PwC’s 2025 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey. 

The study of more than 2,000 UK workers found that 62 per cent of Gen Z employees (aged 18–28) feel optimistic about the future of their roles, compared with just 35 per cent of Gen X workers (aged 45–60). Despite an uncertain job market and rapid technological change, young professionals appear the most positive about career progression and the most excited about going to work. 

Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of Gen Z say they look forward to work, compared to 68 per cent of millennials and 55 per cent of Gen X. Nearly one in three Gen Z employees (28 per cent) feel this way every day, suggesting a stronger sense of engagement among younger workers. 

The optimism is also coupled with a readiness to act in their own interests. Nearly one in three Gen Z professionals (27 per cent) plan to change jobs in the next 12 months – a higher proportion than any other generation. Many say they are looking for better pay, career development, and learning opportunities. By contrast, just 19 per cent of Gen X workers expect to make a career move in the year ahead. 

Sarah Moore, Head of Workforce Transformation Consulting at PwC UK, said employers should view this energy as an opportunity, rather than a challenge.  
“Gen Z’s optimism, energy and ambition is a massive opportunity for the UK workforce – but they won’t wait for employers to catch up. There’s understandable concern around rising economic inactivity among young people, particularly due to mental health. This shouldn’t be confused with a lack of motivation – quite the reverse. Gen Z cares deeply about their work and wants to make an impact.” 

Moore added that businesses need to adapt learning and development strategies to harness this drive. “Tailored learning, cycles of experience and reverse mentoring are some of the great ways businesses can harness this positive appetite and talent from the younger workforce,” she said It is critical for business and economic growth that the workforce is engaged in order to retain and develop talent.”  

The research also highlights a growing “skills gap” between generations. While six in ten UK employees overall (61 per cent) say they have access to the learning resources they need, younger workers are far more likely to be actively upskilling. More than half (54 per cent) of all employees learned career-relevant skills in the past year, but Gen Z workers were nearly twice as likely to do so compared with Gen X peers. 

This divergence is most visible when it comes to technology. Around 51 per cent of Gen Z workers believe they have control over how technology will affect their jobs, compared with just 21 per cent of Gen X. Younger employees also feel more excited about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their future careers,expecting gains in productivity (67 per cent vs 39 per cent), salary (47 per cent vs 18 per cent) and job security (48 per cent vs 16 per cent). 

The findings follow the UK government’s Keep Britain Working review, which called on employers to play a greater role in tackling ill-health and supporting people to stay in work. PwC’s data suggests that while younger workers are enthusiastic and engaged, they are also more prone to fatigue. Nearly half (45 per cent) of Gen Z say they feel overwhelmed at least once a week – a reminder that motivation does not necessarily mean resilience. 

The survey found that AI use is becoming more common across the UK workforce, though adoption varies widely. Around one in seven workers (15 per cent) use generative AI daily – more than double the proportion from 2024 – but uptake among non-managers remains limited, with 73 per cent saying they have never used it at work. In contrast, nearly half (47 per cent) of senior executives use AI tools weekly or daily, suggesting a widening digital divide. 

Those who use AI regularly report significant benefits. Daily users were more likely to see productivity increases (93 per cent vs 62 per cent), improved job security (69 per cent vs 36 per cent) and higher salaries (64 per cent vs 32 per cent). Confidence in job security among frequent AI users stood at 83 per cent, compared with the UK average of 60 per cent. 

PwC’s 2025 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey gathered views from 49,843 workers across 48 countries and 28 sectors between July and August 2025. Figures were weighted to reflect each country’s working population by age and gender.