New research conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago and Humankind shows that 80% of Gen Z workers say stress undermines performance

New research released today by Humankind conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago reports that younger American workers are experiencing stress in ways that are fundamentally different from, and more disruptive than older workers today. Compounding this challenge, nearly half of working-age adults report inadequate support systems in times of crisis, revealing younger workers face mounting pressures with less social support than older generations.

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The 2025 Humankind Quality of Life Trend Report leverages data from NORC’s survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,121 American adults across all demographics, regions, and age groups to understand how quality of life factors – from emotional and physical health to financial security and social connection – impact workforce well-being and performance.

Key Findings:

• Performance Under Pressure: 79% of Gen Z workers aged 18-29 say stress affects or distracts them at work with life stressors often or sometimes impacting their ability to maintain focus or concentration (66%), their motivation (69%), and their ability to make decisions or solve problems (61%), all of which ranked highest among all age groups surveyed.
  • Among 18- to 29-year-olds, top health concerns include exercise habits (24%), eating habits (23%), and sleep habits (20%) – all of which they cite as workplace distractions.
  • Gen Z survey respondents also cite financial stress as a top reported workplace distraction, and 43% would use employer-provided financial wellness support programs if provided.
• Inverse Age-Stress Correlation: Stress levels are inversely correlated with age, with youngest workers reporting highest stress across financial, emotional, and health domains.
• Eroding Support Networks: 47% of adults aged 18-59 have two or fewer people to turn to for help; nearly 1 in 10 workers aged 18-44 have no one.
• Benefits Gap: Older workers (60+) report relative satisfaction with employer support, while younger workers are seeking greater support across all categories measured.
• Gender and Education Divides: Women and lower-educated workers report higher emotional stress and lower support satisfaction.

The findings arrive as employers grapple with rising turnover, declining engagement, and the challenge of supporting an increasingly diverse, multi-generational workforce. With stress levels highest among younger workers who will comprise the majority of the workforce within the next decade, the research highlights growing pressure for employers to evolve their approach to employee well-being.

“What we're seeing is a workforce in transition, with traditional support systems that aren't keeping pace. Behind these statistics are real people struggling to focus at work because they're worried about paying rent, or they're making critical decisions while emotionally overwhelmed, or they simply have no one to call when life gets hard,” said Jaclyn Wainwright, Co-founder & CEO of Humankind. “The quality of people's lives directly impacts their ability to perform, and employers have both an opportunity and a responsibility to intervene proactively before stress erodes engagement, productivity, and retention. We need to rethink how we support the human condition at work.”

The data suggests that traditional approaches to employee benefits – passive programs that wait for workers to self-identify needs and navigate resources on their own – may not adequately address the employees who need support most. As the workforce shifts younger and social support networks erode, the gap between employee need and employer response may widen in the future. These findings align with emerging workforce strategies that emphasize proactive outreach and personalized support that connects employees to resources at the moment they need them most, rather than waiting for individuals to seek help independently.

The full 2025 Humankind Quality of Life Trend Report is available at https://www.humankindforall.com/2025-quality-of-life-report.

About Humankind

Founded in 2002, Humankind partners with U.S. employers to transform workforce quality of life by addressing daily stress, mental health challenges, financial insecurity, and unmet basic needs. By combining proprietary behavioral analytics with authentic human connection, the company's multidisciplinary team of licensed clinicians addresses root-cause issues to improve the human condition by proactively reaching out when it matters most. Serving over 2 million employees, with 86% of individuals showing improvement across well-being dimensions within 30 days. The company delivers measurable outcomes including improved employee retention, engagement, productivity, and health outcomes while maximizing the value of existing benefits investments. Humankind meets people where they are and never leaves them there. Learn more at humankindforall.com.

About NORC at the University of Chicago

NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.

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Supporting employees when and where they need it is key to employee well-being and productivity. Three in 4 employees say personal stress makes it harder to focus, engage with others, make decisions, or stay motivated while on the job.