On-the-job learning drives career growth for 94% of Gen Zs, 97% of Millennials in India

National, 22 May 2025 – As workplaces evolve with automation, GenAI, and changing expectations, India’s young workforce is redefining career success. The 2025 Deloitte Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey offers powerful local insights from a global lens, with responses from 809 Indian professionals—505 Gen Zs and 304 millennials.

Nearly half of India’s Gen Zs and millennials say they aren’t receiving the mentorship they expect. Doubts about the value of traditional education are also rising, as many question whether formal degrees alone are enough in a fast-changing job market.

Learning and development: A top priority, but gaps remain

• Growth opportunities matter: Career progression and learning are among the top three factors driving job decisions.
• Mentorship shortfall: Around half seek active mentorship from managers—but far fewer receive it.

Career growth and skills development

• Practical learning wins: 94% of Gen Zs and 97% of millennials value hands-on experience over theory.
• Time management is key: Ranked as the most critical skill for workplace success. Other skills include creativity and innovation, soft skills, domain knowledge, and technical skills.
• Delivery pathways: Learning platforms and subscriptions, expert mentorship, and in-house/structured learning are the top ways through which employers can support these learning ambitions.

The high stakes of higher education

• Interest persists, but the barriers are formidable too: 11% of Gen Zs and 9% of millennials in India plan not to pursue higher education—well below global averages.
• Amongst those opting out, financial constraints and family circumstances are the top reasons.
• 52% of Gen Zs and 45% of millennials are dissatisfied with the quality of higher education. The corresponding numbers are 36% and 40% for cost concerns.

GenAI: High adoption, high impact

• Early adopters: 85% of Indian Gen Zs and millennials are already using GenAI at work.
• GenAI boosts well-being: The cohorts opine that its helping improve work-life balance and output quality.
• Top use cases: Design/creativity and content creation are the most popular pathways for using Gen AI amongst Gen Zs and millennials.

Career mobility

• Many switch tracks: 11–12% have already moved away from their original fields.
• Factors driving change: 41% Gen Zs cite job availability as top the reason for switching paths, while better work-life balance is the driver for millennials.

Happiness at work: globally shaped by money, meaning, and mental health

• Financial security drives happiness: Those who feel financially secure are more than twice as likely to report being happy.
• Mental health support pays off: 61% of millennials and 53% of Gen Zs who feel supported, report high happiness.
• Work-life balance is essential: Those satisfied with it are significantly happier overall.

Financial pressures are real

• Living paycheck-to-paycheck: 55% of Gen Zs and 62% of millennials struggle to stretch their income.
• Worries differ by generation: Gen Zs fear unemployment; millennials focus on rising living costs.
• Mental health: Stress rising, but awareness growing
• One in three feel frequent stress: 33% of Gen Zs and 29% of millennials in India say they feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time.
• 36% of Gen Zs and 39% of millennials in India said that their job is a factor contributing a lot to their feelings of anxiety or stress.
• Causes are structural: Long hours, instability, and lack of autonomy top the list.
• A shift is underway: Indian respondents are more likely than global peers to feel their employers take mental health seriously.

Environmental consciousness: Concern fuels action

• Climate anxiety runs deep: 84% of Gen Zs and 83% of millennials have felt worried about the environment in the past month.
• Sustainability choices on the rise: Over 50% of Gen Zs and millennials have already purchased an electric vehicle. 31% of both cohorts have already done so.
• Greener homes, greener habits: Over 40% have already made or planning eco-friendly home improvements.

India’s Gen Zs and millennials are setting new expectations for what a meaningful career and employer should deliver. For employers, it’s no longer enough to keep pace—it’s time to lead with purpose, empathy, and a commitment to building workplaces that are resilient, inclusive, and ready for what comes next.