WHAT THE DATA SAY: 72% of Gen Z, 56% of Millennials putting life on hold due to money

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

PUTTING LIFE ON HOLD

Financial pressures are pushing young people to delay – and sometimes doubt they’ll ever reach – milestones like homeownership, marriage and parenthood, according to Harris Poll research with Northwestern Mutual.

• 72% of Gen Z and 56% of Millennials say financial challenges have caused them to delay at least one major life milestone.
• A similar amount (71% of Gen Z and 60% of Millennials) worry they might never be able to afford at least one major milestone.
• 31% of Gen Z and 24% of Millennials have delayed buying a house, while 24% of Gen Z and 14% of Millennials have delayed having children.
• 20% of Gen Z and 11% of Millennials have delayed getting married.
• Nearly half of Gen Z (46%) and a third (32%) of Millennials feel pessimistic about the impact of AI on their careers.
• Among Gen Z and Millennial parents, more than 7 in 10 say they spend as much or more on their children each month as they do on rent or a mortgage.
• Gen Z started saving for retirement at 22 on average, while Millennials started at 28.
• See also: Forget FOMO: Fear of financial regret is keeping younger Americans at home on Saturday night

AI SKEPTICISM AT SCHOOL

While enthusiasm for AI in education is cooling, students say AI is helping them be more efficient and less stressed, according to our Allison Worldwide research for Quizlet’s How America Learns 2026 report.

• 30% of students and teachers say they have a positive attitude toward AI in education, down sharply from 43% in 2025 and 40% in 2024.
• 6 in 10 students say AI has made them more efficient than last year, and 37% say it has reduced stress around schoolwork.
• Among high school students, 41% say AI has reduced school-related stress, and 22% say it has helped them get more sleep.
• 18% of students feel very confident in their studying progress, while 23% are often unsure whether they’re focusing on the right things.
• 33% of students, teachers and parents say schools are not adequately preparing students for success beyond the classroom, only a slight improvement from 36% in 2025.
• See also: Americans don’t want AI doctors. They want AI doctor-friends

WORKERS WANT A WAY UP

Employees are eager to grow at their current companies, yet many lack a clear roadmap to advancement, reports our Harris Poll survey with EdAssist by Bright Horizons.

• 77% of employed workers say they’d prefer to stay with their current employer if clear internal advancement opportunities exist.
• 83% say they are motivated to learn new skills to advance their careers, yet nearly half (47%) say they don’t know where to begin.
• Among employees who’ve used workplace education benefits, 50% say they gained skills that helped in their current role, and 40% say those new skills helped advance their career.
• 71% wish their employer provided clearer steps to reach the next role.
• While 64% say their manager is involved in guiding skill development, only 33% say they’ve had a conversation in the past year about building relevant skills.

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Gen Z has made discount brands cool (Harris Poll) 
• Why brands need a PR plan for people and a PR plan for machines (Allison and Marcel Goldstein)
• Among the most active AI users, 43% worry AI will spread misinformation and 28% worry it will make society more unequal (Harris Poll)
• Uncertainty Is Reshaping How People Travel, Not Whether They Travel (HarrisX, Allison and Booking.com)