Over half of Gen Zs, millennials delay major life decisions including starting a family

Gen Zs and millennials say they have delayed major life decisions due to their financial situation. More than half of Gen Zs (55%) and millennials (52%) report delaying decisions such as starting a family, furthering education, or launching a business.

The 2026 Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Survey found that cost of living is the top concern for Gen Zs and Millennials for the fifth consecutive year. Nearly half of respondents report living paycheck to paycheck. 69% of Gen Z and 64% of millennials said that the availability or affordability of housing has a direct impact on their career decisions and where they can work. Only 6% of Gen Zs and millennials say achieving a leadership position is their primary career goal because of concerns about the tradeoffs being in a leadership role. The most commonly cited barriers to leadership are stress and burnout (50% of Gen Zs and 49% of millennials), excessive responsibility (50% of Gen Zs and 48% of millennials), and concerns about work/life balance (41% of Gen Zs and 46% of millennials).

Despite financial strain, optimism persists, particularly among the Gen Zs. About 53% expect their personal financial situation to improve over the next year, compared with 45% of millennials. Three-quarters of Gen Zs (76%) and two-thirds of millennials (67%) say they are interested in pursuing senior leadership roles at some point in their careers. The Deloitte's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey reflects the responses