The idea that Gen Z is lazy, entitled, and hates working isn’t new. But recent data suggests something more structural may be going on, and that this shift in attitude may be a rational response to today’s economic reality.
A report shared by Yahoo Finance found that many Gen Z workers are intentionally cutting back on effort at work — a term coined as “quiet quitting” — because they don’t believe hard work alone will lead to long-term financial stability.
According to 2025 data from the National Association of Realtors, the average American no longer earns enough to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home. Add in skyrocketing childcare costs and a rapidly shifting job market driven by AI, and it’s no surprise that traditional markers of stability feel completely unattainable to many Gen Z workers, leading to reduced effort and motivation to succeed in the workplace.
On X, @LeadingReport summarized the findings of the Yahoo Finance report about Gen Z work ethic, saying, “BREAKING: Gen Z has cut down on their effort at work because they do not think it is worth it if they cannot afford long-term financial goals, per YF.”
That tweet went viral, sparking a heated debate in the replies as people across generations weighed in on the rationality of Gen Z’s “quiet quitting” mindset. Many people applauded this approach and said it resonated with their own experiences:
“Gen Z is right obviously. Taking work seriously has very few upsides anymore.”
“Hard to stay motivated when companies are looking to automate your job function while you’re at $100,000k in student debt.”
“This isn’t laziness — it’s a rational response to broken incentives.”
“If you don’t have the potential to make millions, it’s almost not even worth it to work hard for someone else’s success.”
“Now hard work is just the entry fee to tread water.”
Others pushed back, saying that giving up is never the answer, even in a challenging economy.
“There’s a certain percentage of every generation that thinks like this and there’s a certain percentage of every generation that wants to succeed. 20 years from now, the first group will look at the second group with resentment and jealousy.”
“If you do this you are a lazy ass bum.”
“If you’re not willing to put in the effort when you’re not making a lot of money, why the heck would I want to pay you more?”
“I can’t think of a worse way to achieve your long-term financial goals than getting yourself labeled as a bad, lazy, unmotivated worker right off the bat.”
“Dear Gen Z. If you are treading water, it can really seem hopeless. But purposefully reducing your ability to keep your nose above water isn’t going to end well for you. Ever.”
Whew. As a member of Gen Z, I feel conflicted. There’s no denying our generation is facing economic challenges that previous generations didn’t, but I want to believe that effort and ambition still matter, even when the system feels stacked against us.
Now I need to know: Where do you stand on this? Is quiet quitting a rational response to today’s economy, or do you think hard work will still pay off in the long run? Sound off in the comments, or use the form below if you wish to remain anonymous.