Deloitte study reveals Middle East youth are rewriting the rules of success, seeking money, meaning, and well-being
Only 6% of Gen Zs say their primary career goal is to reach a senior leadership position.
Middle East – As one of the world's youngest regions in terms of its demographics, the Middle East is at the forefront of a generational shift in workforce values. Young people in the region are prioritizing financial stability, personal purpose, and mental well-being over traditional markers of success such as climbing the corporate ladder, according to the 14th edition of Deloitte Global's Gen Z and Millennial Survey.
The survey findings are particularly relevant for the Middle East, where over 60% of the population is under the age of 30: in Saudi Arabia alone, two-thirds of nationals fall within this age group, while nearly half of the UAE's population is between 15 and 35.[1]
Mutasem Dajani, CEO of Deloitte Middle East, commented, 'As our region navigates the ongoing economic and social transformation, as well as the disruption caused by emerging technologies, it's imperative for organizations to recognize and adapt to the priorities of our youth. On top of financial stability our youth today are expressing a need for a sense of personal purpose, which is essential for their mental well-being and career satisfaction. At Deloitte, we are committed to supporting young talent by fostering an environment that empowers them to thrive and enjoy meaningful careers.'
Deloitte's global study is based on responses from over 23,000 Gen Z and millennial participants across 44 countries. Three-quarters of respondents in these generations believe GenAI will transform their work in the coming year. Gen Zs and millennials are using GenAI more frequently, prioritizing training to boost their skills, and seeing improvements in their work quality. More than half already use GenAI in their day-to-day work, with 29% of Gen Zs and 30% of millennials using it all or most of the time.
However, more than 60% of youth worry GenAI will eliminate jobs and are motivated to seek jobs that they perceive as safe from GenAI-driven disruption. Working alongside GenAI, more than eight in 10 Gen Zs and millennials say developing soft skills, like empathy and leadership, is even more important for career advancement than honing technical skills. Yet only 6% of Gen Zs say reaching senior leadership is their top career goal. Instead, they are gravitating toward roles that allow for learning, growth, and balanced living.
Notably, these generations are questioning the value of higher education. Around one-quarter expressed concerns about the relevance of the curriculum to the job market, and the practical experience it offers.
The pursuit of money, meaning, and well-being
When asked about the factors that impact their career decisions, Gen Zs and millennials gave responses that fell into three categories: money, meaning, and well-being. The Deloitte survey underscores that these areas are tightly interconnected as respondents seek to find the right balance.
Financial insecurity is on the rise: nearly half of Gen Zs (48%) and millennials (46%) do not feel financially secure, up from 30% of Gen Zs and 32% of millennials in last year's survey. The survey data also reinforces that without financial security, Gen Zs and millennials are less likely to have a positive sense of mental well-being and less likely to feel their work is meaningful.
Moreover, purpose influences job satisfaction. Roughly nine in 10 Gen Zs (89%) and millennials (92%) consider a sense of purpose to be important to their job satisfaction and well-being. Among those who report positive mental well-being, 67% of Gen Zs and 72% of millennials feel their job allows them to make a meaningful contribution to society compared to 44% of Gen Zs and 46% of millennials who report poor mental well-being.
Rana Salhab, People & Purpose Managing Partner at Deloitte Middle East said: 'Gen Zs and millennials are rebalancing priorities at work, amid a dynamic business landscape that is being constantly reshaped by technologies such as AI. What we're seeing in the Middle East is a redefinition of ambition, not a lack of it. Younger people want to build careers that are aligned with their aspirations. It's a powerful call for more human-centered leadership, one that is thoughtful about the impact of technology and supporting the workforce while advancing organizational goals.'
To learn more, read the full report here: www.deloitte.com/genzmillennialsurvey.
About Deloitte Global 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey
Deloitte's 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey reflects the responses of 14,751 Gen Zs (born between 1995 January and 2006 December*) and 8,731 millennials (born between 1983 January and 1994 December). In total, 23,482 respondents were surveyed from 44 countries across North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. The survey was conducted using an online, self-complete-style interview between 25 October and 24 December 2024. The report includes quotes from survey respondents, attributed by generation and gender, who answered open-ended questions, as well as from participants in one-on-one, ethnography style, qualitative interviews conducted separately from the online survey between 19 December 2024 and 10 January 2025.
*Gen Zs are typically defined as being born between January 1995 and December 2010, but this study does not include respondents younger than 18, so each year the definition of Gen Zs in this survey shifts a year to include all adult Gen Zs
© 2025 Deloitte & Touche (M.E.). All rights reserved.
In this press release references to 'Deloitte' are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ('DTTL') a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.
About Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) LLP:
Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) LLP ('DME') is the affiliate for the territories of the Middle East and Cyprus of Deloitte NSE LLP ('NSE'), a UK limited liability partnership and member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ('DTTL').
DME is a leading professional services organization established in the Middle East region with uninterrupted presence since 1926. DME's presence in the Middle East region is established through its affiliated independent legal entities, which are licensed to operate and to provide services under the applicable laws and regulations of the relevant country. DME's affiliates and related entities cannot oblige each other and/or DME, and when providing services, each affiliate and related entity engages directly and independently with its own clients and shall only be liable for its own acts or omissions and not those of any other affiliate.
DME provides services throughout 23 offices in 15 countries with more than 7,000 partners, directors and staff.
About Deloitte:
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ('DTTL'), its global network of member firms, and their related entities (collectively, the 'Deloitte organization'). DTTL (also referred to as 'Deloitte Global') and each of its member firms and related entities are legally separate and independent entities, which cannot obligate or bind each other in respect of third parties. DTTL and each DTTL member firm sand related entity is liable only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of each other. DTTL, NSE and DME do not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more.
Deloitte provides Audit & Assurance, Tax & Legal and Consulting and related services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. Our professionals deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society and a sustainable world. Building on its 175-plus year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 457,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.
Bassel Barakat
External Communications |PR and Media Lead
Deloitte & Touche (M.E.)
bbarakat@deloitte.com | www.deloitte.com
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