Housing pressures and cost of living stress are driving careers and life choices for Ireland’s younger workers.
Housing affordability and living costs are shaping how Ireland’s Gen Z and millennial workforce are planning their careers, their lives and their futures.
According to findings from Deloitte’s 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey of 403 people in Ireland and 22,000 globally, more than half in Ireland said they have delayed major life decisions due to their financial situation, while housing costs are now influencing not only where people live but the jobs they pursue.
“While digital and AI skills are important, these groups development areas highlight a notable trend, with a desire to develop public speaking skills and critical thinking top of the list”
Gen Z are those born between January 1995 and December 2007 and millennials are those born between January 1983 and December 1994.
Less Generation Games, more Hunger Games
Nearly 8-in-10 (77%) of Gen Zs and 61% of millennials in Ireland say housing affordability affects their career decisions. 54% of Gen Zs and 54% of millennials in Ireland say they have delayed major life decisions due to their financial situation.
Cost of living is the top concern for these cohorts (44% of Gen Zs and 63% of millennials), far outranking other challenges such as mental health, unemployment, and climate change.
43% of Gen Zs and 41% of millennials in Ireland say they feel stressed all or most of the time. For both generations who said they feel a lot of anxiety and stress, the top reasons are their longer-term financial future and day-to-day finances.
Maintaining a good work/life balance is the top primary career goal for Gen Zs (20%) and millennials (27%) in Ireland. Achieving financial independence is a close second (18% and 24%).
Career ambitions and skills
Ireland’s Gen Zs and millennials are ambitious for leadership roles, with 72% of Gen Zs and 55% of millennials interested in pursuing senior leadership roles, such as C-suite and executive positions.
Both generations are prioritising steady progress in their careers instead of fast-paced growth.
One-quarter of Gen Z and 27% of millennial respondents in Ireland have completed AI training, on par with the average in the wider survey of 44 countries.
However, the barriers to using AI at work differ across the groups. For Gen Zs, a lack of trust about the output of AI tools is top (23%), while lack of knowledge and experience is the second barrier (22%).
For millennials, the top equally ranked concerns are lack of effective training opportunities and AI tools not addressing specific needs of their role (23%).
Gen Zs are focused on development beyond techs kills as well, with public speaking (43%) and communication skills (38%) ranking higher than digital literacy skills (36%) for areas they want to develop.
For millennials, public speaking (39%) and AI fluency (35%) are the highest, with critical thinking coming at a close third (34%).
“As Gen Zs and millennials mature into leadership roles, they continue to redefine work on their own terms. These generations champion flexible and hybrid working, more open conversations about mental health in work, and prioritising work-life balance,” says Gary Notley, Human Capital partner in Deloitte Ireland. “Yet they face financial challenges that are reshaping their careers.
“While financial pressures are clearly top of mind, according to Deloitte’s Gen Z and millennial survey, they are also remarkably ambitious and are prioritising steady progress in their careers. Our survey highlights the importance of the social element in the workplace, with friendship at work being linked to higher happiness levels and greater tenure. In an era of hybrid and flexible working, it’s a powerful reminder that connection is crucial.”
64% of Gen Zs and 60% of millennials in this survey have work colleagues they consider personal friends. For Gen Zs who have work friends, 32% plan to stay at their organisation 5+ years, compared to 17% of those who do not have a work friend.
“Interestingly, while digital and AI skills are important, these groups development areas highlight a notable trend, with a desire to develop public speaking skills and critical thinking top of the list.”
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