Young people in Switzerland are under financial pressure, delaying life plans and unable to buy their own home

The availability and affordability of housing is having a significant impact on career plans among Gen Zs and millennials in Switzerland, who are delaying key life decisions for financial reasons. These are some of the findings of a recent Deloitte study. Although young people are feeling the financial strain, they are focusing less on their career. At the same time, the majority have a favourable attitude towards AI.

The recently published 15th edition of the ‘Gen Z and Millennial Survey’ by the audit and consulting company Deloitte surveyed 22,595 people from 44 countries, including 400 living in Switzerland (300 Gen Zs (born 1995–2007) and 100 millennials (born 1983–1994)). The results show that young people in Switzerland are redefining what success means to them: not just a rapid rise up the career ladder, but also stability, balance and flexibility.

While young people in Switzerland in general are not hit as hard by the day-to-day cost of living as their peers in other countries (see Figure 1), financial concerns still play a major role, with 78 per cent of Swiss Gen Zs and 67 per cent of millennials – well above the global average – saying that the availability and affordability of housing was having a significant influence on their career decisions and where they choose to work and live.

46 per cent of Gen Zs and 60 per cent of millennials in Switzerland revealed that they were delaying major life decisions, such as marriage, starting a family or furthering their education, due to their financial situation. In addition, 54 per cent of Gen Zs and 53 per cent of millennials stated that they could not afford their own home, well above the international average (Gen Z 51%, millennials 40%). Almost half of respondents in Switzerland said that they lived from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, this figure is slightly higher than the global average. This has produced a situation in which almost a third of Gen Zs (31%) and just over two-fifths of millennials (41%) do not feel financially secure.

Financial concerns impacting work/life balance

“Switzerland is an attractive place to work, and salaries are high,” says Michael Grampp, Chief Economist at Deloitte Switzerland. “But even young people with a solid education and a steady job are finding it increasingly difficult to afford their own home. This isn’t just a problem for individuals, it’s a warning sign for the whole economy: if we want to attract and retain talented people, politicians need to take targeted action to tackle Switzerland’s tight housing market.”

Financial issues feature prominently on the younger generation’s list of concerns (see Figure 2). Despite being worried about their financial situation, however, almost a fifth of the Gen Zs and millennials surveyed are not in full-time or salaried employment. Seeking a better work-life balance was a conscious decision for many respondents, with 23 per cent of Gen Zs and 20 per cent of millennials indicating ‘Maintaining a good work-life balance’ as their main goal in life – ahead even of career progression.

Mental health: sparking a change on the job market

Gen Zs and millennials in Switzerland have less lofty career ambitions than their counterparts in other countries. According to the survey, just 33 per cent of Gen Zs and 26 per cent of millennials are aiming for ‘steady career progression’, as against a global average of 44 per cent for Gen Z and 45 per cent for millennials. 48 per cent of Gen Zs and 57 per cent of millennials in Switzerland would take on a managerial role in exchange for higher pay. They would need flexible working models, mental health support, management training and coaching before aiming for a promotion.

“Focusing solely on ‘status and salary’ is no longer enough to retain talent these days,” explains Tiina Pokkinen, Human Capital Partner at Deloitte Switzerland. “Employers need to provide meaningful work, flexibility and effective support. Younger generations are consciously investing in their mental and physical health and taking the time to cultivate personal relationships because they know this is more sustainable over the long term. Companies need to have a rethink. Those that can offer real purpose, flexibility and support will be able to attract and retain workers who are committed to their jobs, while companies that ignore these expectations will lose them.”

Now, however, firms have begun to recognise the importance of mental health: 78 per cent of Gen Zs and 70 per cent of millennials felt that their employer took mental health seriously, a sharp rise compared to 2024 (Gen Z 59%, millennials 58%). Young people are also more willing to discuss mental health issues openly with their line managers, with 75 per cent of Gen Zs and 70 per cent of millennials confident enough to broach the subject with their own manager.

AI viewed positively

The younger generations are optimistic when it comes to digital technologies. The vast majority – and many more than the global average – see AI as having a positive impact on their working life (Gen Z 81%, millennials 77%) and home life (Gen Z 87%, millennials 80%). A total of 73 per cent of Gen Zs and 67 per cent of millennials in Switzerland said that they used AI in their day-to-day work.

“Talk of artificial intelligence is often dominated by fears of job losses,” Michael Grampp explains. “But our study shows that, as far as these generations are concerned, AI isn’t just a threat to jobs, it’s also a tool to make use of. They see it as an opportunity to automate repetitive tasks, letting them concentrate on work that actually means something. This is precisely the mentality we need to stay competitive.”

About the study

The ‘Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Study 2026’ surveyed 14,384 people from Generation Z and 8,211 millennials (22,595 respondents in total) from 44 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. A total of 400 people (300 Gen Zs and 100 millennials) took part in the survey in Switzerland. The study was conducted between 24 November 2025 and 19 January 2026. Deloitte defines the generations as follows: Generation Z = born between January 1995 and December 2007; millennials = born between January 1983 and December 1994.