Gen Z start building wealth earlier than previous generations, but 56% say they did everything right and still feel stuck, with housing, tuition and car costs making traditional milestones feel out of reach.
01Summary
- 01Gen Z started building wealth at 19 on average, compared to 25 for millennials, 29 for Gen X and 32 for boomers.
- 0256% of Gen Z say they did everything right financially but are not where they hoped to be, and 62% struggle to make financial headway.
- 0329% of Gen Z and 26% of millennials have given up on homeownership for financial reasons.
- 04The median first-time homebuyer age hit a record 40 in 2025, up from the late 20s in the 1980s.
- 05Published in-state tuition at public four-year colleges has nearly doubled since 1995-96 to £11,950 a year, while median family income rose only 39% after inflation.
02Why it matters
For young workers, the traditional path of homeownership, education and car ownership no longer guarantees financial stability; employers may need to rethink benefits such as 401(k) matching to retain talent.
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