Debunking Stereotypes: Record Employment Rate Among Gen-Z

Hardworking Instead of Lazy.

Those who belong to Generation Z quickly find themselves confronted with stereotypes. People talk about a lack of commitment, a reluctance to work, and an excessive focus on work-life balance. But as a recent analysis of the IAB’s Microcensus shows, these narratives are based more on feelings than on facts. In fact, young people in Germany today are working more frequently than they have in decades: The labor force participation rate for 20- to 24-year-olds rose by 7.1% from 2015 to a historic high of 76.8% in 2025.

Gen Z works significantly more often than older generations in retail, as well as in the hospitality and food industries. They are significantly less likely to be employed in corporate management and organizational roles, as well as in corporate-related service occupations. When part-time student jobs are factored out, employment among younger people is ultimately spread just as broadly across many occupations as it is among older adults, meaning that—contrary to stereotypes—Gen Z represents a central and reliable pillar of the labor market.

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