Millennials (also known as Generation Y, Digital Natives, Generation Me, Generation Rent, and Echo Boomers) are generational cohort born roughly between 1980-2000 (though different sources can vary by a year or two). The term “Millennial” was first used in the book Generations (1991) by William Strauss and Neil Howe, who felt it was an appropriate name for the first generation to reach adulthood in the new millennium.
In 2025, Millennials, aged between 25 -45, are not the young cool generation anymore – that baton’s been firmly passed to Gen Z.
Millennials are the cohort between Generation X (defined as those born between 1965 and 1980) and Generation Z (defined as those born from about 1997 to the early 2010s).
Millennials are the most studied and talked about generation to date. In 2014, they were labelled as lazy, narcissistic, and spoilt me-me-me generation by Time magazine. In 2025, they are fully grown-up adults rewriting the rules of work and life.
(Please reference this source if you use any stats below.)
They are the first generation in history who have grown up immersed in a world of digital technology, which has shaped their identities and created lasting political, social, and cultural attitudes.
In 2025, this generation is rewriting the rules around work, money, tech, and wellbeing.
While Gen Z are digital natives, Millennials are digital bilinguals — analog childhoods, digital adulthoods.
Like every other generation, Millennials display generalized and unique traits shaped by defining events throughout their formative years including 9/11 terrorist attack and the Great Recession of 2007–09.
This list is an ongoing work. We aim to be the most comprehensive List Of Millennial Characteristics on the internet
Updated 02.10.2025.
Strauss and Howe ascribe seven basic traits to the Millennial cohort: special, sheltered, confident, team-oriented, conventional, pressured, and achieving.
We extended the list by combining the most trusted, large-scale research available.
MILLENNIAL FACTS
MILLENNIAL BEHAVIORS
MILLENNIAL VALUES
MILLENNIALS AT WORK
MILLENNIAL CONSUMERS
In 2024, Millennials were the largest generational cohort in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Approximately 21.7 percent of the population are Millennials. Gen X was the next largest generation at 20.3 percent of the population, followed by Gen Z at 19.6 percent, and the Baby Boomer Generation on 19.3 percent.
As of 2024, it is estimated that there are approximately 71 million Millennials in the US and 16.8 million Millennials in the UK.
In 2015, Millennials surpassed Generation X to become the largest share of the American workforce, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
And in 2019, they surpassed the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) to become the largest generation of adults.
Our massive size ensures that we will dominate everything for years to come, just as the Baby Boomers have for the last 30 years.
It is estimated that by the year 2048, Millennials will represent 39% of the nation’s electorate. This will give us incredible voting power. In fact, we are already having a huge impact on elections. In 2008, Millennials were the number one reason why Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination during the primary season.
Millennials are the most educated generation in Western history, followed by Gen Z.
34% of 25 to 29-year-old Americans held a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree last year – a higher share than in any year in data going back to 1968, according to Matthew Chingos, a senior fellow at Brookings.
Millennial women are outperforming Millennial men in the classroom. Overall, Millennial girls tend to outperform boys in elementary and secondary school, getting higher grades, pursuing tougher academic programs, and participating in advanced placement classes at higher rates.
Additionally, 57% of today’s undergraduates are women, and women are now earning 170,000 more bachelor’s degrees each year than men.
While in 1970 fewer than 10% of medical students and 4% of law students were women, today women represent roughly half of the nation’s law and medical students and 55% of the nation’s professionals overall.
Without a doubt, education is a big factor in achieving success for Millennials. The majority of us think that education is a big factor in achieving success in life and we are willing to put ourselves into debt to get that increasingly expensive piece of paper.
Millennials consistently report being the most confident with tech. 46% say they’re comfortable using new tools, outperforming Gen Z at 42%. That edge has held steady for the last five years.
We are the first generation to grow up constantly connected to the world, and are what the Pew Research Center has labeled “Digital natives in a land of digital immigrants.” Without a doubt, we have embraced technology like no other generation.
Millennials clearly adapt faster to computer and internet services because they have always had them.
In addition to entertaining themselves and keeping up with social contacts, 46% of US Millennials said they use their devices for research and education.
72% reported owning a smartphone and 28% had a tablet.
Millennials do everything tech-related in higher percentages than all other generations. We are the most likely to use the internet and send or receive an email at least occasionally (90% reportedly do), although Gen X and Boomers aren’t far behind (at 87 and 79%, respectively).
Unlike Gen Z, Millennials are not just passive users of technology. We are some of the main drivers of tech advancement right now.
Millennials also have more positive attitudes about technology than other generations–we are the most likely to say that technology makes life easy rather than harder, are the most likely to say technology brings people closer together than drives them further apart, and are the most likely to say that technology allows people to use their time more efficiently.
Nearly 9 in 10 high school students in the US today say that they would use the word “confident” to describe themselves.
PwC Millennial survey (2015) revealed that British female Millennials are the most confident and ambitious of any female generation. 49% of them starting their careers believe they can reach the very top levels with their current employer.
According to a November 2008 Pepsi Refresh Optimism report found that 81% of Millennials chose the word “hopeful” to describe their feelings about the future, 65% chose “optimistic” and 57% chose the words “confident” and “excited”.
Millennials have been raised to believe that we can accomplish anything. Our parents, teachers, coaches and all adults who have been a part of our lives, have drilled it into our heads that “if you believe you can achieve it, you probably can.”
Our sense of “specialness” is what drives our confidence. It isn’t individual confidence that fuels this attitude, it is collective confidence.
We just aren’t letting these immense challenges that we have before us dampen our spirit. Instead, we are becoming increasingly determined to work together to solve these problems. We really do believe that things will get better.
Millennials are America’s 2nd most ethnically and racially diverse cohort ever after Generation Z (born between 1997-2013). Gen Z is the last generation in US history to be majority white.
Among Millennials ages 13 to 29: 18.5% are Hispanic; 14.2% are Black; 4.3% are Asian; 3.2% are Mixed Race or Other; and 59.8%, are Caucasian (Keeter, 2010).
According to The Economist, surveys of political attitudes among Millennials in the UK suggest increasingly liberal attitudes about social and cultural issues, as well as higher overall support for classical liberal economic policies than preceding generations.
Millennials are more likely to support same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana. Data released by the Pew Research Centre found that acceptance of gay marriage is at an all-time high among young adults, so it’s much more likely we will be seeing more progress if our generation votes and continue to be vocal.
77% of Democratic-leaning Millennials and 63% of their Republican counterparts support legalised marijuana, according to the latest data from Pew. Those are the highest numbers among any age group. It turns out that being subjected to anti-drug lobbying for most of their adolescence hasn’t prevented today’s 20 and 30-somethings from concluding that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and that, if your goal is to promote a healthy and just society, it might not make much very much sense to legalize the latter and put people in jail for the former.
Millennials view diversity as a way to create unity in a country as opposed to using so-called “identity politics” to divide the country. In fact, a January, 2010 Pew Research Center Study revealed that 67% of 18-to-29-year-olds agreed that increasing ethnic and racial diversity is a good thing.
Our diversity will be crucial to us as we attempt to overcome some big issues like racism, immigration, sexism, homosexuality and religious differences.
A majority support same-sex marriage, we almost unanimously agree that interracial relationships should be accepted by society, a large majority support equal pay and opportunities for women, we are the most likely to feel that immigration is a good thing for our country, and we are the most religiously tolerant generation alive today.
Over half of Millennials polled in the UK said they had ‘no religion nor attended a place of worship’, other than for a wedding or a funeral.
25% said they ‘believe in a God’, while 19% believed in a ‘spiritual greater power’ and 38% said they did not believe in God nor any other ‘greater spiritual power’.
The poll also found 41% thought religion is ‘the cause of evil’ in the world more often than good.
In the United States, Millennials are less likely to practice organized religion than older generations, and are more likely to be skeptical of religious institutions.
While the majority of American Millennials are religious, one in three is irreligious, continuing a trend towards irreligion that has been increasing since the 1940s.
29% of Americans born between 1983 and 1994 are irreligious, as opposed to 21% born between 1963 and 1982, 15% born between 1948 and 1962 and only 7% born before 1948.
Entertainment and memories? Sure. But for Millennials, social media is also a career tool. These LinkedIn lovers are 12% more likely than the average user to use social media for work-related networking or research.
35% read news stories through social platforms, they’re 13% more likely to follow company accounts that align with their job, and 15% of millennial users are classified as “professional networkers.” In other words, the scroll isn’t just social, it’s strategic.
For a long time, pragmatic and idealism were seen as opposites. Now Millennials are saying “We want to change the world and we know it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to have the plan to get there.”
From an early age, Millennials witnessed firsthand what it takes to be agents of change, and as a result, 61% are worried about the state of the world and feel personally responsible for making a difference.
The typical belief of a pragmatic idealist:
〰️ “Believe in your dreams and the only thing that stands between dreams and reality is your own hands to make it happen.”
Millennials are rewriting the traditional script of adulthood. Instead of following the predictable order of milestones—graduate, get married, buy a home, have children – they’re creating flexible, personalized life paths that reflect their realities and values.
This generation doesn’t see success as tied to a specific age or social expectation.
According to U.S. Census data, Millennials now head 4.2 million out of 8.3 million unmarried cohabiting households. Back in 1987, only 10% of 25–29-year-olds lived with a partner outside marriage; by 2012, that number had jumped to 37%. Many are even waiting until their 40s to marry.
But this isn’t just about economics—it’s cultural. Living with your parents into your late 20s or early 30s isn’t shameful anymore—it’s smart financial planning. Cohabiting before marriage isn’t frowned upon—it’s seen as emotionally mature.
Rising living costs, student debt, and unstable housing markets have made it harder for Millennials to achieve what previous generations viewed as “normal” by their 30s. As a result, many are delaying marriage, parenthood, and homeownership—or opting out altogether. For some, this is a financial necessity; for others, it’s a conscious choice to prioritise education, travel, or entrepreneurship before settling down.
Unlike Boomers or Gen X, who tended to marry young, Millennials are more likely to invest in themselves first—emotionally, financially, and professionally. They see adulthood as a period of continuous growth, not a checklist to complete. Relationships, when they happen, are often based on shared values and stability rather than social timelines.
Research by Pew and the Urban Institute shows that fewer Millennials are marrying or living with partners compared to previous generations. Many describe dating as more complicated, influenced by changing gender dynamics and digital culture. Others are content being single, valuing independence and self-fulfillment over societal pressure.
Millennials aren’t rejecting tradition out of rebellion — they’re adapting to a new reality. Living with parents longer, renting instead of buying, or having children later doesn’t signify failure; it reflects pragmatism. Success for Millennials is increasingly measured by freedom, purpose, and stability rather than ticking off milestones on a conventional timeline.
This generational shift has cultural and economic ripple effects — from the housing market to dating apps to the rise of “slow living” and minimalist lifestyles.
Millennials are the first generation to truly question whether having children should be a given part of adulthood. Increasingly, they’re deciding that parenthood isn’t essential to living a full, meaningful life.
A cross-generational study from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania found a dramatic shift in family intentions. Among Wharton graduates, 78% of women in 1992 planned to have children, compared to just 42% in 2012—a drop by nearly half. The same pattern appeared among men.
Similar trends are appearing globally.
During the past 50 years, birth rates all over the world, including China, Japan, Europe, and the United States, have been declining dramatically. Furthermore, a 2020 analysis of data from almost 200 countries found that the average number of children a woman had declined from 4.7 in 1950 to 2.4 in 2017.
A recent Pew Research Center poll found that about one-third of young people of child-bearing age (18-34 yrs) weren’t sure if they wanted children, and about 20 percent said that they had already decided that they don’t want any children. That follows a rise between 2018 and 2021 in the percentage of nonparents under 50 who said they were “not too likely” or “not likely at all” to have kids (16% versus 21% and 21% versus 23%, respectively).
Millennials are redefining family and obligation. For many, it’s not about rejecting parenthood out of cynicism but choosing it only if it aligns with their values, lifestyle, and finances.
High living costs, economic instability, and environmental concerns play a major role—but so does a cultural shift toward autonomy and emotional well-being.
They’ve also become more selective about the relationships they maintain—romantic, familial, or otherwise. Millennials are far less likely to tolerate toxicity or obligation-driven connections. As one observer put it:
〰️ “We’re not cold-hearted. We’re just done putting up with what older generations endured. If it’s harmful, we walk away.”
This generation doesn’t see fulfillment as tied to a nuclear family structure. Instead, they’re building chosen families, nurturing friendships, pets, or creative projects with the same devotion once reserved for traditional households.
Child-free living and DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) relationships are on the rise—not as a rejection of family, but as a conscious embrace of freedom, balance, and self-determined happiness.
For Millennials, wellness isn’t a fad—it’s a focus.
Half describe themselves as health-conscious, and more than 2 in 5 are interested in health food, drinks, and nutrition.
Half describe themselves as health-conscious, and over 2 in 5 show a strong interest in health food, drinks, and nutrition.
Their approach is intentional, too: 38% say they manage their food intake to feel healthier, and they’re 11% more likely than average to do it with fitness goals in mind. In the past month alone, 39% of health-conscious Millennials purchased vitamins or supplements.
From what they eat to how they train, they’re not chasing quick fixes—they’re building habits designed to last a lifetime.
Wellness is a goal that millennials actively work toward. Half describe themselves as health-conscious, and more than 2 in 5 are interested in health food, drinks, and nutrition. No other generation ranks higher on this front.
They’re intentional about how they eat too. 38% of millennials say they control their food intake to feel healthier, and they’re 11% more likely than the average internet user to do it with fitness goals in mind. In just the past month, 39% of health-conscious millennials have bought vitamins or supplements.
From food choices to fitness goals, they’re not chasing a quick fix, but rather building habits that last for life.
Millennials are budget-savvy and can cope with delayed gratification, with 70% saying they’d prefer to save up and wait to buy something, rather than hitting that purchase button instantly.
They’re also switched on when it comes to money management. 36% say managing their finances is one of the main reasons they go online. And while 37% say they’re good at handling money, 61% say that being financially secure is a top priority for them.
Research from PEW and Nielsen has long shown that Millennials are true digital multitaskers, often juggling work, messaging, entertainment, and side projects simultaneously. They switch between devices faster than any other generation, and most say they feel more productive when doing several things at once.
Multi-tasking can enable them to accelerate their learning by permitting them to accomplish more than one task at the same time. They do want to use their time most efficiently and multitasking offers them more options. For example, a student may download and listen to a lecture while doing his/her laundry or exercising.
The research shows that Millennials will rarely instant message someone without doing some other task(s) simultaneously.
The nomad, defined as “an individual with no fixed location who wanders in search of pasture” can represent a cultural ideal for this generation. In the face of social and financial pressure, many are attempting to remain free from the feeling of restriction.
Millennials also have a nomadic communication style – they are prolific communicators, whose communications are speeded by using shorthand, coded, or abbreviated text.
They love and expect communication mobility; to remain in constant touch wherever and whenever. This is their firm desire to do whatever they need to do, and obtain any services independent of their geography or distance.
Millennials are much more likely to instant or text message more frequently than they email and they typically have more buddies on their IM lists than the older generations.
Millennials love a flat, networked world and expect nomadic connectivity, 24×7.
I’m reluctant to put this phenomenon down to youthful wanderlust alone, because the breadth of experiences this generation craves suggests there’s something more to it:
* Far more Millennials than non-Millennials report a desire to visit every continent (70 % versus 48 %) and to travel abroad as much as possible (75 % versus 52 %)”, according to Boston Consulting Group.
* More than twice as many Millennials as those in other age brackets say they are willing “to encounter danger in pursuit of excitement,” according to Barkley.
* When Millennials dine out, they’re often in search of something exotic, adventuresome, memorable to explore during the experience.
26% are eyeing a domestic vacation in the next six months, and they’re 22% more likely to have booked an experience like a spa day or event online than the average internet user.
And when it comes to this planning, they are digital-first, with 17% more likely to have visited online booking site Skyscanner than the average internet user in the past month.
But travel isn’t just about getting away, it’s about making their plans work practically. Millennials are 41% more likely to prioritize family-friendly facilities when choosing where to stay, and 27% say they enjoy spa or retreat-style holidays. Whether it’s a vacation with children, or a trip with friends, Millennials plan well.
Millennials are impatient about becoming recognised as valuable contributors (Gursoy et al. 2008; Pew Research Center 2007). They view time as a valuable resource that should not be wasted (Deloitte 2009).
Millennials are the impatient “We Want It Now” generation. We are the products of our society – we are bombarded with more than 5,000 marketing messages a day and as a result, can’t hold attention for more than 8 seconds.
On-demand services like Google, Amazon, Netflix, Uber, Deliveroo don’t add to our patience either. We expect instant gratification, instant answers, and instant services.
The Millennial generation has a strong sense of community both on a local and global scale. Compared to the previous generation, Millennials focus on larger societal needs rather than individual needs.
“People born between 1980 and 2000 are the most civic-minded since the generation of the 1930s and 1940s,” claimed USA Today.
Millennials believe in the value of political engagement and are convinced that government can be a powerful force for good.
According to the Deloitte Millennial Survey, Millennials consider the government to have the greatest potential to address society’s biggest issues. Almost half feel the government is having a negative impact on areas identified as among the top challenges: unemployment (47%), resource scarcity (43%), and income inequality (56%).
Also, the majority of Millennials say that the rising inequality gap is a serious problem in this country. A 2014 National Election Survey found that 84% of 18-to-26-year-olds felt that the gap between rich and poor had grown in the last 20 years and 94% said that this was a bad thing, a higher percentage than all other generations.
Millennials are likely to support a progressive tax system, and they want to increase the minimum wage to support free trade and believe that government regulations on businesses are necessary to keep them in check and to protect consumers.
Overall, Millennials feel obligated to do their part to make the world a better place, and we believe that we can.
Civic generations tend to bring about times of greater economic equality and more inclusive racial and ethnic concerns. Thus, it isn’t surprising that a civic generation like Millennials shows high levels of compassion–a characteristic that will certainly be instrumental in helping us to build a powerful legacy.
When it comes to health, social, economic, and environmental issues, Millennials care.
Millennials are often referred to as conscious capitalists, which means that they look up to businesses that serve the interests of all major stakeholders—customers, employees, investors, communities, suppliers, and the environment.
A whopping 81% expect companies to show their commitment to corporate responsibility.
Nielsen’s global online study found that Gen Y continues to be most willing to pay extra for sustainable offerings—almost 3-out-of-4 of respondents in the latest findings, up from approximately half in 2014. This is a generation that truly believes that it can influence the world with the power of the wallet (or credit card).
A socially conscious mindset is one of the most defining traits of Gen Y. As the most ethnically and racially diverse generation in US history (43% of U.S. adults are non-white), Millennials have learned to embrace the differences in one another.
Millennials want to be real. They want to stay true to who they are, their values, and their individuality. They want their employers to respect their individual differences and embrace the potential that these unique qualities can bring.
Millennials are not interested in playing “the game” their parents once did. For many generations before, the cost of playing the game was too high: failed marriages, burnout, too little work-life balance, depression, etc.
In the age of social media, authenticity is characterized by consistency and continuity between their online personas and their lives in the real world.
Matthew Tyson wrote on The Huffington Post in 2016 that millennials “are not moved by flashy ads, big promises, and ‘wow’ factor. They want authentic messages, authentic brands, and authentic interactions.”
What does “authentic” mean? It means imperfect and transparent. Open your business up a little. Show what’s happening behind the scenes. Do what you say you do on social media. Stand for what you say you stand for on social media.
Millennials don’t just accept the status quo and they will challenge the system if there’s something we could improve on.
We think independently despite the system we’re operating within. We constantly question the messages society puts out through the media.
According to the numerous studies conducted on Millennials, we are a very progressive generation. This may not be very surprising to many since it is commonly believed that young people are always progressive, but then become more conservative as they age. Millennials will largely retain our progressive views even as we age.
To us, being progressive is about wanting to move the country forward, to advocate change, to advance new ideas and policies.
In fact, a November 2008 Pepsi Refresh Optimism report on Millennials found that we tend to embrace change, and 95% make positive associations with the word. The top words Millennials associated with change were “new” (79%), “progress” (78%), “hope” (77%) and “excitement” (72%).
And according to the 2007 Greenberg Millennials Study, participants reported that one of the top defining characteristics of their generation is the ability to “embrace innovation and new ideas.”
Social issues are where Millennials hold the most progressive views. In terms of homosexuality, interracial relationships, gender roles, immigration, and religion, poll after poll and study after study confirms that Millennials hold decidedly more progressive views than all other generations alive today, and in history.
Couples are more progressive. More women are becoming breadwinners and co-parenting with their partners.
Pew Research Center (2021): Millennials (along with Gen Z) stand out for climate-change activism and engagement—hallmark “progressive” issue behavior.
The majority of Millennials see themselves as global citizens, who have a responsibility to make the world better. They are less patriotic and more globally minded, which enables them to contribute to the general welfare of society.
A global citizen respects and values diversity is outraged by social injustice, is willing to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place and takes responsibility for their actions.
Millennials are often unfairly labelled ‘lazy’ or ‘soft’ at work. In reality, research shows they’re a motivated generation that values efficiency and meaning in what they do. For them, work isn’t just about a paycheck—it’s about purpose.
They are more likely than previous generations to seek careers that align with their values and contribute to the greater good.
Between 2007 and 2008, volunteerism among Millennials nearly tripled compared to the general population, and participation in programs like the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps surged. According to Harvard’s Institute of Politics, 6 in 10 Millennials have considered a career in public service.
This mindset extends into their professional choices:
* A Brookings report found that 64% of Millennials would take a 60% pay cut to work in a role that aligns with their passions. The Intelligence Group study found that 64 % of Millennials said they would rather make $40,000 a year at a job they love than $100,000 in a job they find boring.
* Surveys from the National Society of High School Scholars and Universum found Millennials overwhelmingly prefer companies that champion social responsibility.
* Banks and traditional financial institutions now rank among their least trusted brands, reflecting a generational shift in values.
Millennials gravitate toward roles where they can make a positive impact, improve processes, and progress in their careers.
Millennials value open communication and mentorship more than any generation before them. Studies in the Journal of Business and Psychology found that they expect close relationships and regular feedback from supervisors. They want to know how they’re doing, how to improve, and where they’re heading—preferring continuous dialogue over annual performance reviews.
This desire for guidance likely stems from their education experience. Researchers from Emory University, Hershatter and Epstein, link it to Millennials’ upbringing within a structured, feedback-heavy school system shaped by reforms like No Child Left Behind. That environment normalised having mentors, clear expectations, and collaboration—values now mirrored in their workplace behaviour.
As a result, two-thirds of Millennials say they prefer flat, collaborative structures over rigid hierarchies. They don’t want to “report up”—they want to work alongside.
For Millennials, work–life balance is not a “perk”—it’s a priority. According to Deloitte (2023), around one-third of Millennials and Gen Zs are very satisfied with their work–life balance—an improvement from 2019—but many still see achieving better balance as a top priority.
Unlike Boomers, who built their identity around work, Millennials favor personal wellbeing and family values over corporate loyalty. They witnessed burnout up close—often in their parents—and are determined to build careers that leave room for life. Remote work, flexible hours, and mental health benefits are not extras; they’re expectations.
Millennials are widely regarded as one of the most entrepreneurially-minded generations yet—studies show high levels of intent, innovative values and startup activity among them.
In the US, only 13% of survey respondents said their career goal involves climbing the corporate ladder to become a CEO or president. By contrast, almost two-thirds (67%) said their goal involves starting their own business.
Millennials have disregarded the life and career path that was so formally laid out by the Baby Boomers and eager to make their own pathways as they see chaos, distrust of corporations, redundancy, and other bad news associated with businesses.
People’s minds are open to new possibilities, exciting opportunities, and great challenges.
It is now easier than ever to start your own website and business, which is one of the reasons Millennials are discovering entrepreneurship significantly earlier than Boomers did. While the older generation launched their first businesses at roughly 35 years old, so-called “millennipreneurs” are setting out around 27—which means some of them already have almost a decade of experience.
Millennials are starting more businesses, too. On average they launch about twice as many companies as boomers have.
However, many of the businesses set up by Millennials, unfortunately, fail.
According to the Kauffman Foundation, young people very well may lead the country in entrepreneurship, as a mentality. But when it comes to the more falsifiable measure of entrepreneurship as an activity, older generations are doing most of the work. The average age for a successful startup founder is about 40 years old.
In the UK, Millennials have built new businesses out of the ruins of a recession since 2008, and in doing so, they’ve changed the career expectations for a whole generation.
More Brits are joining the freelance ranks. 1/6 of the UK workforce are self-employed and Western society hasn’t seen a change this significant in more than a century.
Since the crash of 2008, self-employment has skyrocketed in the UK. Today roughly 4% of Millennials were self-employed, which is a significant proportion of the total 31.85 million employed (2017).
The recession has shown that there is no job for life and that we live in an economy of SELF, where only YOU are responsible for what is going to happen with your life. Millennials are enthusiastic about creating their own luck and work opportunities throughout life.
Millennials are realizing that starting a company, even if it fails, teaches them more than sitting in a cubicle for 10 years. And learning is the number one force for societal and personal progress.
A Dec 2024 article from Intuit: “The Side Hustle Generation: Gen Z and Millennials Redefine Financial Success” — reports that nearly two-thirds (≈66%) of 18-35-year-olds have started or plan to start a side hustle as an additional income stream.
ResearchGate surveyed 254 younger workers to explore the motivations behind holding multiple jobs and they found that multiple jobholding is no longer just a necessity for low-wage workers, but is increasingly chosen by professionals across income levels. There is an emerging shift among younger workers toward “Mosaic Careers” (Welsh & Nguyen, 2025) — where they explore how younger workers (including Millennials) are choosing to hold multiple jobs not only for income but also for autonomy and professional identity.
Confidence is climbing too, as since 2022, there’s been a 5% increase in full-time Millennials who describe themselves in this way. This generation isn’t just clocking in and clocking out, they believe in what they’re building.
Even though older generations have often criticized this generation for not having a strong enough work ethic, Millennials work very hard, with more than one out of every four having at least two jobs.
Millennials value flexible working arrangements and freedom over the stable 9-to-5.
They want to work from remote locations with non-traditional hours.
They are also likely to pursue flexible career paths as they prioritize work-life balance higher than their previous generations.
Several other researchers have noted that, while money is important, Millennials do not see money as their only source of happiness. Rather, they feel rewarded by work arrangements that offer them more flexibility. PwC study found, that 15% of male employees and 21% of female employees would give up some of their pay and slow the pace of promotion in their careers in exchange for working fewer hours.
Whether it’s a night owl who’s still half asleep at 9 AM, the Millennial who wants to volunteer in her community, or the parent, who needs to care for their kids or elderly, everyone has an equal right to request flexible working.
77% of Millennials say that flexible work hours would make the workplace more productive for people their age (Bentley University study), and 82% of Millennials said they are more loyal to their employer if they have flexible working options (Flexjobs).
Millennials want to have open and honest relationships with their manager and co-workers.
Transparency in the workplace means sharing truths about the company, providing honest feedback on performance, and encouraging two-way communication.
Factors such as leader transparency are highlighted as what this generation values most (Deloitte).
Employees’ job satisfaction is higher when leaders share information, including bad news, evaluate their job performance regularly, create a supportive climate and expect input.
Millennials seem to expect open communication from their leaders and managers, even about matters that have traditionally been considered for more senior employees. In other words, even in a low-level position, Millennial workers are required to be kept in the loop of information.
Transparency refers to being clear about the reasons behind decisions and being open about policies, results, and information about the market.
This is because Millennials want to know about what is coming down the road and also have a say in decisions of which they are expected to implement. It is important for employees that their views are heard and taken into account.
According to the world’s largest human resources consulting firm Mercer, pay is less of a secret to Millennials. Roughly 1/3 of U.S. workers aged 18 to 36 say they feel comfortable discussing pay with their co-workers, which is about four times more than Baby Boomers, (according to a survey of 1,000 employees conducted by personal finance firm Bankrate Inc).
Millennials are less likely to accept “time-based” progression (e.g., “you’ll be eligible for promotion after x years”) and more likely to expect “output-based” recognition (e.g., “show results and be rewarded”) (ResearchGate).
They want efficient, effective processes and systems — they value tools & structure that help them work smarter, not just longer.
They expect career development and skill-growth built into their roles, not something to be earned solely by seniority.
They expect the evaluation and promotion of their work to be based on the outcomes they produce and not based on age, time spent at the desk, years of experience, or position.
Millennials are interested in processes and services that work and speed their interactions.
Millennials seem to be more people-oriented in their working style, establishing close relationships at the workplace. This is the opposite of how Generation Z wants to work.
Millennials work well in teams and are motivated to have an impact on their organizations” and “are more comfortable working in teams than were past generations.
They prefer egalitarian leadership, not hierarchies.
After many years of collaborating at schools, sports teams, and peer-to-peer networks, most Millennials like working in groups. We highly prefer a sense of unity and collaboration over division and competition.
Teamwork is something Millennials actually enjoy because working together is far more effective than doing it alone.
Contrary to previous generations, Millennials were brought up in an atmosphere of equal relationships and co-decision-making, and they have a community-oriented “we can fix it together” mindset.
Also, the 2007 Greenberg Millennials Study found that when respondents were asked about the best way to address the challenges facing the country, the leading choice by far was “through a collective social movement.”
The Millennial generation’s attraction to teamwork could be, and arguably already is, a big factor in strengthening our civil and political engagement.
As Millennials move into their prime spending years, their spending habits have shifted from chasing status to investing in stability—physical, emotional, and financial. Wellness has become the new luxury.
A 2024 Ford Trends Report found that 60% of Millennials in the US would take a 20% pay cut for a lifestyle that prioritises well-being. They now spend an average of $115 a month—about $20 more than Gen Z — on beauty, fitness, and mental health resources, according to StyleSeat’s 2024 survey.
Together with Gen Z, Millennials are powering the $2 trillion global wellness market. They’re not just buying gym memberships—they’re experimenting with health tech, supplements, IV drips, mindfulness apps, and smart devices that promise better sleep, recovery, and longevity.
McKinsey’s Future of Wellness 2025 report notes that younger consumers are “more open to experimentation and interested in testing digital health solutions.”
There’s also a cultural shift in how Millennials think about aging. They’re embracing it—sort of. As one expert put it, “There’s a tension between wanting to age well and wanting to look like you haven’t aged at all.”
Millennials are happy to invest in longevity and biological health, but they also appreciate the quick-fix convenience of Botox, micro-treatments, and supplements that promise youth from the inside out.
What used to be called “anti-aging” has become “pro-longevity.” For Millennials, wellness isn’t a trend—it’s the foundation of a longer, more balanced life.
Conscious of unemployment, stagnant wages, and lack of stable jobs, Millennials try to live within their means, save for emergencies, and not buy things they don’t need.
High student debt loads, stagnant wages, rising housing/housing-cost burdens are part of why many Millennials behave more frugally (Investopedia).
Trying to get by by spending as little as possible, has become the norm for many young people. Leading a minimalistic life is the new cool.
Millennials don’t want to buy stuff, but experiences trump possessions. Millennials prefer to spend on experiences – food/drinks, eating out, concerts and wellness.
Millennial parents are more likely than non-parents to exhibit budgeting behaviors, as they need to cover the costs of the entire family. Brands can offer this cohort financial relief through price-match options, discounts, flexible payment plans, and loyalty programs. The circular shopping economy also offers parents a way to stay within their budget, as shopping secondhand or renting items is a way for parents to get what the family needs, without being financially or sustainably wasteful.
Over half of Millennials in the United Kingdom and the US shop online regularly.
While apparel, personal care, and food and beverages are the products bought most frequently online, brands will want to promote a wide range of items and ensure a smooth and easy shopping experience. Convenience remains key for Millennials and the ease of returning products dictates where they shop, as 77% agree that they are less likely to shop with a brand or retailer if they have a bad returns experience.
A significant 8 in 10 Millennials look at many different products and brands before deciding which one to buy.
Millennials make more online purchases than Generation X or “Baby Boomers” – but do more research before parting with their cash.
Around 3 in 10 only buy from websites they have used before, while an equal number only spend money on sites with trusted recommendations.
45% per cent of Millennials admitted they prefer buying online because they can run comparisons on products and prices, with three in four stating it’s ”easier than going to the shops”.
Millennials trust others’ opinions online. Therefore, beyond the price of online offers, customer reviews are a crucial purchase factor, making social media key in the Millennial shopping journey, as platforms are ripe with short-form video content reviewing specific products and brands.
Despite the potential cost savings, 66% of Millennials would choose to prioritize ethics and would choose not to purchase from a brand or retailer that engages in unethical behavior. Brands looking to appeal to Millennials will have to look beyond the price tag. Although price is a leading purchase factor for Millennials, many are not willing to compromise on their morals and values, including social and environmental values, to score a good deal.
The Ultimate List Of Generation Z Characteristics
I’m not a millennial… my experience with them …
They tend to be very self serving… what’s best for them
… they have a “better than others” attitude, judgemental … I blame the parents a lot ( myself included ) as we raised our children, often giving them comfort, not wanting them to struggle … they were given too much now they “expect” and feel entitled
I hired a young lady who felt that because she had a diploma ( online college ) that she was “entitled” to a higher salary even though she had no actual experience…she didn’t stay long
And sadly, MANY in tech generations don’t have the knowledge that their diplomas imply due to the (lazy) ability to cut&paste information rather than actually read, write and absorb .. their research is “Googled” rather than searched for in libraries and other resources
Your response is extremely biased…how can you label every single Millennial as being lazy and entitled? Have you met every single Millennial on the face of the planet? You are relying on an uneducated biased notion you gained through only a few encounters with Millennials. If you bothered to get to know a Millennial, personally you would see how wrong you are.
I agree! Self-serving!
Exactly! They think they are entitled! The only thing this page says that is correct is that they are impatient! They demand everything they want now, without
working for it. They would rather work part time while getting full time benefits. They want us “Boomers” to die. They cry about pollution while speeding around in their parents car or jetting to their favorite vacation spot.
Kate, you sound like a Millennial. Deborah did not say all but those that she has experienced. Calm down Kate all of you Millennials are unique little snowflakes. I am sure Deborah did not mean to insult you.
Chris, thank you for moderating the fight! 🤘🏼 We need you
Yes, the vast majority of millennials I have worked with are lazy. I have had them take credit for my work. I have seen a couple get scammed (no smarts here) by text messages. Everything offends them. But they are allowed to speak their minds. Entrepreneural, yes. Realistic about it, no.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jeanette.
Most Millennials were severely neglected on all fronts. Across the board.
I have a millennial son.
He is highly intelligent, highly motivated, efficient, and committed to his own business.
He takes a path different from the one I took, but his path suits the times, and not only do I admire him, but I stand back while he plans his own life.
Great attitude! Thank you for being on our side by trying to understand us x
Why does there need to be a side to be on, each generation through history continues the evolution of our society. Each has struggled with and mostly found solutions to the challenges infront of them, be that through economic instability, poor healthcare, social instability ( war, suppression, racism ) and mostly without issuing blame and hatred towards their predecessors.
Thanks for leaving a comment, Anthony. I agree with you. I also think it’s positive to see a mother, who supports her son no matter what.
I adore this comment ❤️
That is how it should be, indeed. Unfortunately, it’s acceptable and even encouraged, it seems, to chew off, spit out, hate and obliterate the Millennial generation and no one bats an eye! Unfortunately, having broken my own sacred rule of “don’t read the comment section” I, as expected, read, many hateful things. Y? Millennials must only be hated?
I’ve worked and lived with many millennials, and I have to say I disagree with some of this. My experience is that a lot of millennials tend to be very authoritarian and bossy. Refusing feedback and instruction at work because they think they know everything.
And yet under that facade of confidence is often a lot of insecurity and they tend to fall apart emotionally when things get tough.
Totally!
Interestingly there doesn’t appear to be any mention of the down side to hiring a millennial?
Totally agree
I like this article and want to quote the author in my school project, can you please give me the name of the author? Thank you
aw thanks, it’s Tanya Korobka
One of my life loves is a millennial – my daughter. She doesn’t feel the need to be unauthentic to People Please. I love her individuality and passion. Sometimes her honesty is more than I want to hear as a mother. Her definition of success isn’t external but internal. It isn’t what she has but who she has become. I wish I had her confidence and courage at that age.
Beautifully put Teresa, and thanks for leaving this comment! I have the same feeling – I wish I could have been that honest and unapologetic in my early 20s as many people are now.
My that I’d quite a list and I agree with many things on it. But do Millineals have any fsults? Strengths well
weaknesses iare the true measurements on any list. I am quite sure perfect humans do not exist. Have a nice day!
They do! 🙂 and I’m currently working on expanding this list. Thank you for your advice.
A Very solid review and delineation of this group.
Thank you, Edward ,)
They are lazy waste of space, sucking out the planets and parents resources. Grow up and make your own way.
Okay boomer
Well said Mark you are the man…
OK boomer, we live in a world where we grow up worrying if there will be enough clean water, clean air, if animals will go extinct because of your generation and because you dont know that your actions had consequences. i think is to idiotic of you to say that when you wasted our space with your pollution and trash. we are making our own way with the rubble you left us with.
You’re right Mark. Babies are born that way. It’s the parents’s job to take care through their development and teach them to be good responsible citizens.
Thanks. 😞 I’m a millennial. That is just 1 person, we’re not all the same!
The problem is, ppl of the older generations don’t want that because they only see us leaving our jobs under them as their next competition. And you older generations do everything in your power to prevent our progress to do our own stuff by all the complains yall put in to state and city governed work forces. And you claim we are lazy but we are just sick of workforce slavery. You own the jobs-
When rent is more than our pay; we lose our homes. Resulting in the inability to further obtained the job. If anything you are proving in your actions through your post mark that the negative things said about us really pertain to older gens. Who feel initialed to suck the life out of our free will, and to try to use us as there slave laborers. If I lose my home, I can’t come into work until I’ve
Until I’ve put in as many housing applications I need to for the day. Something you older gets didn’t have to struggle with Mark is juggling work and rehousing yourself at the same time while tryna maintain the look that your still housed to keep your job. So you might wanna rethink you idea of laziness before talking. Get your facts first. It is that issue with unsustainable pay and housing that-
Thank you for sharing good knowledge and information it’s very helpful and understanding.. as we are looking for this information for a long time.
Here to serve the people 🙂
The great awakening ? new earth THANK YOU MIllennials❣️❣️❣️❣️
Amen!
There is no such thing as individual generations, only a continuous cycle of births and deaths. We are all predominantly born slaves, these days to the financial economy. Nothing has changed only technology, which I fear will be the eventual undoing of humanity.
Thanks for the comment, Annette. Don’t you think you are different from your grandparents? The way you live, think, interact etc ?
Yes. They are everything listed here, I agree. But the confidence they display comes off as narcissistic arrogance to older generations who have earned their due respect. Most millenials haven’t accomplished much yet feel they are equal to older generations who by their accomplishments have earned their place in society.
You’re obviously a millennial or you haven’t spent any time around any. They are lazy, completely uneducated where it matters (real life $hit) and entitled.
I don’t blame them. Honestly, I believe it’s a result of parents wanting their kids to have things they never had, technology, and a political system that is constantly kissing their asses because they are the new baby boomers.
I agree. Perhaps, as a GenXer, we should take ownership of some of the problems that millenials typify. As GenXers, we taught millenials skills that they can’t apply, given them tips on wealth building that were useless and introduced them to ‘adulting” years before they had the emotional capacity to handle it. Technology that was thought to advance them has made them slaves to screens. Own it!
Hi there. I’m a millennial. I work about 60 hours a week, and my workday begins at 5:30 a.m. Sure, my parents may have wanted me to have things they never had, but I certainly did not get those things. We were very poor growing up. I grow and harvest my own food, do my own home/car repairs, volunteer at a local food pantry, and tutor high school students on weekends. Go ahead, call me lazy again.
I think millennials don’t buy into the “you have to earn it” mentality. That is why we are perceived as lazy or entitled. See the thing is we watched the older generations struggle and fight and earn what they got. Sorry we want an easier life? Why is that a bad thing? We define our worthiness differently- it’s not linked to our sacrifice or need to prove ourselves to others.
Yes, that’s exactly it! I don’t need a big house/car.. I just want to love my days, not impress others ;). Thanks for the comment, Nova
As a Boomer we fought communism taking hold in America. I think the Zoomers will bring the country back.
Let’s hope so 😉
Gee, they sound absolutely perfect. Far superior to their predecessors. And far more narcissistic.
As a baby boomer, I have twin girls that are millennial’s. I appreciate all of the data as I am trying to understand them and be able to communicate better with them. It is not easy and will take effort on both sides, but I am hopefully. One thing is hard to understand is that my generation, or maturity level, we are ok with disagreements. Millennials are not. Or it doesn’t seem so.
Interesting observation about not tolerating disagreement, Steven. I feel like, maybe Millennials have strong morals and they feel very strongly about right and wrong, and hence will not accept your beliefs if they feel like you are in the wrong.
My wife and I raised two millennials and they are both narcissistic. The conversations always have to be about what is going on in their lives and what they think my opinion is about it. They are more interested in hearing themselves talk out their issue than they are talking to me as a person. There is much truth to the fact that it is all about them. They are self serving.
Thank you for your thought, Richard. Definitely some truth to it.
Do you think boomers are not self-serving?
Who wrote this rubbish? Definitely sounds like a narcissistic entitled selfie-lover
🙋🏻♀️ I did! Hi – it’s great to have you here, Chris.
This described me to a tee. Greatly dislike value judgements like “lazy.” That word has a racist history in the West, specifically used to describe Black people by Whites so they could feel superior and justify violence. Using the word lazy, turns a person’s worth into how much labour can be extracted from them.
I’m a millennial. I’m republican, a God fearing Christian, and I believe in earning my money and not getting it free from the government. I yearn for travel, adventure, and knowledge. I’m working on my master’s degree in library science and I’ve been working my ass off in the medical field since I turned 19. I’m really tired of the boomer generation judging us so harshly. We do best that we can.
So much for unbiased. Nice fluff piece to make you all feel better about yourselves and each other, all the while disrespecting every generation before you. The Greatest Generation was appropriately titled. They actually saved the world. It’s the Boomers and Gen X that built all of the technology that you live in and the music and culture that millennial hipsters have used as if it were their own.
I’m actually working on least favourable characteristics of Millennials right now, which I will add to this article soon.Thanks for your comment btw 😉
As a leader to millennials (or any other human being on the planet), you will get no where as long as you stand in judgment of how they are.
Your job is to understand how to reach them, challenge them, mentor them.
But that starts, like it always has with human beings, by relating to them as their greatness, relating to them as what makes them special, not placing them in a “basket of deplorables”
The problem is, ppl of the older generations don’t want that because they only see us leaving our jobs under them as their next competition. And you older generations do everything in your power to prevent our progress to do our own stuff by all the complains yall put in to state and city governed work forces. And you claim we are lazy but we are just sick of workforce slavery. You own the jobs-
We are the majority of the laborers doing the hard work the one generation actually in and on the work force that’s doing the work. Younger generations are only there for the first few pay checks leave and only come back when they need money again. We want to do what’s best for our own living situations. And have our hard work respected and a substantial pay. Because if rent is more than our pay.
🇿🇦 S-African Millennial here👋Odd, how to you it’s acceptable and even encouraged, it seems, to chew off, spit out, hate and obliterate the Millennial generation and no one bats an eye! Unfortunately, having broken my own sacred rule of “don’t read the comment section” I, as expected, read, many hateful things. Y? Millennials must only be hated? Dare anyone mention something positive -you 😡😤
Gen Z here. Past comments seem unreceptive to change (a rather defining quality in Boomers). Maybe Millennials aren’t self-serving but instead respect their boundaries in the workplace. New generations will always bring change and new perspectives. Also, it seems a little self-serving to claim anonymously that oneself is better than an entire generation of people. Just an observation. 🙂