It seems like only yesterday that millennials were making headlines as they entered the workforce, heralding changes to workplace environments and healthcare. And while millennials still make up a significant portion of the workforce, they are currently between the ages of 28-43, meaning they’re no longer the new kids on the block.
Enter Gen Z.
Ranges to identify Gen Z vary, but using a large umbrella it can be said that members of Gen Z were born between 1996-2012,1-2 currently making them between 12-28 years old. The older members of Gen Z are already in the workforce, with more to come in the next decade.
By 2030 Gen Z will make up 30% of the workforce6
Like every generation, Gen Z grew up in a unique time with unique attitudes and beliefs, some of which impact their health, how they work, and how they navigate care. This creates various long-term considerations for workers’ comp as this population will make up a bigger portion of the workforce as they age – and as older workers retire.
In a short period, Gen Z has experienced or been directly affected by an unprecedented level of world-changing events during their formative years, which cumulatively have had negative effects on their overall mental health.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks, frequent school and public shootings, multiple economic recessions and financial crises, political unrest at home and abroad, the opioid and fentanyl epidemics, the pressures of a modern world that continues to grow more complex, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasing anxiety around climate change – all of these factors compound the normal stressors of life and have led to greater levels of mental illness.
Gen Z has the least positive outlook and highest prevalence of mental illness of any generation.7 For example:
1 in 4 member of Gen Z felt emotionally distressed7
24% of Gen Z had a reported mental disorder7
42% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless8
29% of high school students experienced poor mental health8
Gen Z made up 75% of users for Crisis Text Lines7
A working population with higher rates of mental health issues can contribute to workplace complexities, such as productivity impacts, and – further downstream – potential complexities in workers’ comp claims management.
For instance, a survey of more than 34,000 employees at 10 companies revealed that individuals with any mental health condition experienced more absenteeism days per year than individuals with no conditions, at a ratio of 31 to 1.9
From a workplace injury and management perspective, the impacts are multifaceted:
Another factor complicating this matter is that 64% of counties in the U.S. report a provider shortage of mental health providers.7 Meanwhile, 1 in 4 Gen Z could not afford mental health services.7
Gen Z’s approach to drugs and alcohol is different compared to previous generations, in some ways healthier – and in some ways not.
Gen Z has been called the “sober curious generation” due to their lower use of alcohol, with much concern surrounding the impacts that alcohol has on physical and mental health. According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2014, 22.8% of individuals aged 12-20 consumed alcohol, but that dropped to 14.6% by 2024.12-13
Additionally, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that in 2018, 28% of college students and 30% of similarly-aged young adults not attending college abstained from alcohol use – an increase from 20% and 24% respectively in 2002.14
However, Gen Z seems less concerned – or aware – of the health impacts surrounding marijuana and vaping.
Having grown up during a time of marijuana legalization, Gen Z has far less stigma for marijuana than previous generations.
44% of adults under 30 used marijuana at least once in the last year15
Furthermore, Gen Z is very much in favor of further legalization and policies supporting marijuana:
71% of adults aged 18-29 believe marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use – the highest of any age cohort16
34% of Gen Z stated they would not move to a state that has not legalized recreational marijuana17
20% of Gen Z claimed to have left an employer due to their marijuana policy17
Many have claimed that Gen Z has looked to marijuana as an alternative to alcohol due to the perception of reduced risks for overdose and addiction.
While it is positive to see a decrease in alcohol use, marijuana use also presents its own unique care considerations, much of which requires more clinical research.
However, the matter of vaping is of greater concern due to higher utilization among Gen Z.
The use of electronic cigarettes – known as e-cigarettes or vapes – has increased substantially in the last two decades, especially in younger demographics.
Many members of Gen Z may incorrectly assume that vaping is a better alternative to cigarettes. Not only is this not the case, but from 2017-2022, the nicotine strength of e-cigarettes increased nearly three-fold, while the e-liquid capacity increased five-fold, and prices have dropped 70%.18
According to the CDC, individuals aged 18-24 were the age group most likely to vape, with 11% of them using e-cigarettes.19 However, this only includes a portion of Gen Z. Another useful data source to examine is the level of vaping in high school students:
From 2011-2019, the number of high school students using e-cigarettes went from 1.5% to 27.5%19
24.7% of adolescents in grade 12 used e-cigarettes20
19.6% of high school students vaped in 202021
Many argue that aggressive marketing campaigns have targeted younger demographics with flavored e-cigarettes. But the fact of the matter is that e-cigarettes are very accessible for younger individuals.
43.1% of 15–20-year-olds who vaped in 2022 got e-cigarettes from retail sources despite not being old enough to purchase them22
It goes without saying that introducing young people to smoking can lead to various negative health impacts. To make matters worse, the research into the health impacts of vaping is still in its infancy, meaning more risks could emerge in the future.
Regardless, as Gen Z continues to make up more of the workforce – and by extension workers’ comp – it is necessary to consider any substance use when managing their care.
According to the CDC, health risks associated with e-cigarette use can include:19
Harm to brain development, which continues to age 25
Impact to attention, learning, mood, and impulse control
An increased risk of future addiction to other drugs
Irritability and withdrawal symptoms from nicotine addiction
Other potential health impacts include:23
Asthma
Cancer
Heart disease and stroke
Lung conditions
Gen Z is unique in that they grew up with the internet, likely unable to remember a time before it. Additionally, they were either very young when smartphones became available, or they were not even born yet.
To say this generation grew up with technology is an understatement, as technology has been integrated into their education, socialization, healthcare, and more – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when much of their formative years became further digitized due to lockdowns and distancing practices.
Having grown up with technology, Gen Z will demand digital experiences with healthcare. Gen Z is already more likely to use wellness apps to monitor their health than other generations, with 1 in 4 members of Gen Z wearing a fitness or sleep tracker.24
However, it is important to note that Gen Z is primarily used to mobile experiences with optimized user interfaces. They have often consumed technology as consumers, and so Gen Z will flock to digital health experiences, but only if those experiences are user friendly and on par with popular consumer experiences.
The workers’ comp industry must be ready to cater to these preferences, as Gen Z may not have the patience for manual processes, phone calls, and paperwork.
Media outlets have noted that Gen Z can have trouble with certain workplace technologies that aren’t designed with optimized user interfaces, such as fax machines, copiers, and even desktop filing systems.25-26
Research has found that:
56% of Gen Z have received minimal to no digital skills education27
48% of Gen Z felt under-prepared for the workforce in terms of technology skills28
37% of Gen Z felt that schools are not adequately preparing them for the demands of a digital world27
91% of IT decision-makers believe they will need to provide more advanced digital experiences to meet the needs of Gen Z29
Speaking of Gen Z’s frequent use of technology, the effects of extensive screentime cannot be overlooked, with the average member of Gen Z looking at screens for seven hours a day.30
This can, of course, vary depending on an individual’s hobbies, occupation, and personal technology use, but as a cohort, Gen Z’s collective screen time is higher than previous generations, and many have claimed this has caused a resulting increase in eye problems, particularly myopia –nearsightedness.
In the U.S. and across the world, eye problems are on the rise. While there are many risk factors for myopia, extensive screen time is one of them. This is particularly troublesome for younger individuals who use technology more frequently, and whose current or future careers will require extensive technology use.
According to the National Eye Institute, rates of myopia went from 25% of the population in 1971 to 42% in 201731
In 2016, 80-90% of Singaporean high school students were myopic32
The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that by 2050, half the global population will be myopic33
Regardless of if extensive screen time is to blame, poor eyesight has multiple impacts from a health and work perspective, including:
Gen Z reflects a greater racial diversity when compared to preceding generations, a factor that plays a significant role in health and care management, alongside other factors such as culture and socioeconomic background.
Early baby boomers in 1969 were 82% white, and as of 2019, 52% of Gen Z is white.36 According to the Pew Research Center, Gen Z is:36
Approximately 22% of Gen Z are the children of immigrants.36
Regarding nuances in health considerations, there is a higher prevalence of certain health conditions within specific populations. For instance:
Additionally, there are other factors to consider with a more diverse patient population:
