• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers

3

Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers

3

Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
SuccessGen Z

Just a few years into joining the world of work, 4 in 10 Gen Zers are ready to quit and survive on unemployment benefits instead

Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 28, 2025, 7:22 AM ET
PwC warns that the huge pool of unemployed young people—or NEETs—is about the get bigger as Gen Z struggles with their mental health
PwC warns that the huge pool of unemployed young people—or NEETs—is about the get bigger as Gen Z struggles with their mental healthSB Arts Media—Getty Images
  • Many Gen Zers want to give up their careers before they’ve even really started. A PwC report warns that the huge pool of unemployed young people—or NEETs—is about to get bigger, with mental health struggles to blame.

After dipping their toes into the working world and spending a handful of years on the job, many Gen Zers are ready to ditch climbing the ladder in favor of staying home and living off unemployment benefits. At least, that’s according to a new PwC report.

The Big Four accountancy firm’s latest study warns that almost four in 10 young workers are considering exactly that, adding that 18 to 24 year olds are in danger of permanently drifting out of the jobs market.

In comparison, just 10% of the general working population are actively planning on quitting their jobs for good.

But it’s not long commutes or “laziness” that is making Gen Z want to toss the towel in on their careers before they’ve even really started. PwC’s Turning the tide on economic inactivity report points to mental health as the “major driver” behind the trend.

In America, Gen Zers struggling with their mental health have seemingly given up on climbing the greasy pole even earlier—professors teaching the generation say they’re more anxious than millennials and have given up on the American Dream before even leaving school.

They’re about to become ‘NEETs’

While PWC looked specifically at the U.K. labor market, recent research shows a similar phenomenon in the global workforce.

Indeed, the new study arrives as the number of Gen Z NEETs—that is, not in employment, education, or training—is soaring worldwide, with millions of young workers economically inactive. 

In the U.S., this translates to an estimated 4.3 million young people not in school or work. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the situation is also only getting worse, with the number of NEET young people rising by over 100,000 in the last year alone. 

Experts have pointed to “worthless degrees”, AI, and inflation as the reasons young people are frozen out of the job market. 

However, extensive research from the British government shows that actually young people with mental health conditions are 4.7 times more likely to be economically inactive than their cohort.  

And PwC’s findings highlight that Gen Z’s declining mental health is the top reason the NEETs toll is about to get bigger.

But the warning signs were long there: At the start of last year, separate research highlighted that young workers in Britain were missing the equivalent of a day’s work every week due to mental health struggles like depression, burnout, and anxiety. Another study soon after revealed that the youngest generation of workers were more likely to call in sick than Gen Xers who are 20 years their senior, bucking historic wellness trends. 

Yet unemployment benefits are hardly a free ride either. Although a single person living outside of London can earn up to £1,229.42 a month (about $1,590) on benefits—compared to the average monthly U.K. salary of around £2,500—one unemployed Gen Z grad warned that most people aren’t eligible for the maximum amount and claimed it demands a huge amount of administrative work.

For the £400 a month ($497) the government pays Joshy B, he has to meticulously track every job-hunting effort to be eligible. “It’s a full-time job trying to claim benefits, with none of the positives,” the 27-year-old added.

Employers are ignorant to Gen Z’s mental health struggles

Sadly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, young workers’ mental health has been declining over time. 

The majority of the 4,000 people PwC interviewed described their decision to quit as gradual, with more than half saying they mulled over the decision for some months before actually pulling the plug. 

And although in theory this gives managers time to intervene, many young workers don’t feel supported enough by their employer to speak out before quitting. 

“I never spoke to my employer about [my mental health] until it was too late. If I’d spoken to them, they may have been able to support me,” a 23-year-old male from Northern Ireland revealed in the report. 

He’s not alone. Almost half (42%) of those who have left the world of work say they did not speak to anyone for support, according to the report.  

It perhaps explains why employers are ignorant to the issue: One-in-five said the first time they realized someone was going to leave was when the person handed in their notice. 

But even if workers did speak up, many employers wouldn’t be able (or willing) to adjust to their needs anyway. 

When PwC asked workers who quit what could have retained them, they overwhelmingly responded with increased mental health awareness and support like greater flexible working options. Yet, at the same time, employers list expectations for flexibility and the need to accommodate mental health needs among the “main obstacles” stopping them hiring someone who has been out of work.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Orianna Rosa Royle
By Orianna Rosa RoyleAssociate Editor, Success
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Orianna Rosa Royle is the Success associate editor at Fortune, overseeing careers, leadership, and company culture coverage. She was previously the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running publication for CEOs. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Success

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Success

gf
SuccessEntrepreneurship
Meet the 32-year-old who is America’s only full-time spelling bee coach — he charges up to $180 per hour
By Ben Nuckols and The Associated PressMay 23, 2026
7 hours ago
Mel Robbins
SuccessGen Z
Millionaire podcaster Mel Robbins hits back at Gen Z’s lazy label—she says they’re stuck in a world their baby boomer parents wouldn’t even recognize
By Emma BurleighMay 23, 2026
10 hours ago
Josh Smith, founder of Montana Knife Company.
SuccessEntrepreneurs
This 39-year-old quit his lineman job during the pandemic and built a $50 million company in his backyard
By Nick LichtenbergMay 23, 2026
12 hours ago
Jon McNeill
SuccessCareers
Former Tesla president shares the secret to success he learned from his former boss, Elon Musk: ‘He demands to only work with world-class talent’
By Preston ForeMay 23, 2026
14 hours ago
clay
CommentaryLoneliness
I’ve spent 25 years studying loneliness. AI is about to make it much worse
By Clay RoutledgeMay 23, 2026
14 hours ago
Svenja Gudell, chief economist at Indeed
SuccessWorkplace Innovation Summit
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
By Emma BurleighMay 22, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
2 days ago
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
Success
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
By Emma BurleighMay 22, 2026
1 day ago
Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
Success
Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
By Preston ForeMay 22, 2026
1 day ago
Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
AI
Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
By Jake AngeloMay 22, 2026
1 day ago
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
4 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 22, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.