Latest news with #generationZ
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds
Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found. A majority from Europe's generation Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government. Rates of support varied significantly, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%. More than one in five – 21% – would favour authoritarian rule under certain, unspecified circumstances. This was highest in Italy at 24% and lowest in Germany with 15%. In France, Spain and Poland the figure was 23%. Nearly one in 10 across the nations said they did not care whether their government was democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not answer. Thorsten Faas, a political scientist at Berlin's Free University, who worked on the study, said: 'Among people who see themselves as politically to the right of centre and feel economically disadvantaged, their support of democracy sinks to just one in three. 'Democracy is under pressure, from within and without.' The study was carried out in April and May. More than 6,700 people between the ages of 16 and 26 in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Poland responded to the ninth annual survey by the YouGov institute for the Tui Foundation, which funds projects dedicated to youth in Europe. Forty-eight per cent worry that the democratic system in their own country is endangered, including 61% in Germany, where the economy – Europe's biggest – is ailing and the far right has made significant inroads, fuelled in part by increased backing from young voters. The return of Donald Trump to the White House, the rise of China, and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine have shifted power away from Europe in the respondents' perception, with just 42% counting the EU among the top three global players. Despite – or perhaps because of – Brexit, the figure was highest among Britons at 50%. Of those surveyed in the UK, 73% wanted a return to the EU, while nearly half of young Europeans (47%) sought stronger ties between the EU and Britain. The US was seen by 83% as part of the power trio, followed by China with 75% and Russia on 57%. Rising polarisation is also driving young Europeans to the ideological fringes along with their elders, but a notable gender divide has emerged in the process. Nearly one in five – 19% – described themselves as politically right of centre, up from 14% in 2021, while 33% called themselves centrists, 32% as leftist and 16% without any designation. Women in Germany, France and Italy identified as progressive in higher numbers than four years ago, while young men in Poland and Greece have grown more conservative in the same period. Support for tougher restrictions on migration has grown across the board since 2021, to 38% from 26%. Most young Europeans expressed hope in the EU's potential, and two in three overwhelmingly supported their country remaining in the bloc if it still was. But 39% described the EU as not particularly democratic and just 6% said their own national governments worked well, with little need for significant changes. More than half – 53% – felt the EU was too focused on details and trivial matters. They would like the bloc to tackle the high cost of living, bolster defence against external threats and create better conditions for companies to improve the economy. Elke Hlawatschek, the head of the Tui Foundation, said: 'The European project, which has brought us peace, freedom of movement and economic progress for decades, is seen as unwieldy.' Greek people see the strongest need for fundamental overhaul of their political system and are most sceptical about the EU, which Faas described as rooted in enduring trauma of the eurozone debt crisis that drove their country's economy to the brink. Despite stronger support for climate protection among young Europeans, just one in three said it should take priority over economic growth. The figure has slipped from 44% in 2021.
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Watch: Australia's first-time voters have their say
Concerns over the cost of living, climate action, student debt, and the increasing influence of the far-right are key issues for first-time voters in the upcoming Australian federal election. The power is in the hands of the younger generations for the 2025 election as millennials and generation Z outnumber baby boomers, a shift that could reshape the nation's political landscape. Around 18 million Australians are set to vote, with 43% of them millennials and generation Z, compared to the 33% representation of baby boomers, data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows. Among these younger voters is a growing Irish diaspora. The number of Ireland-born residents in Australia has now passed 100,000, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Many first-time voters expressed disillusionment with the two-party system, struggling to find positives in either the Labor or Liberal coalition parties. "I think [Liberal Party leader] Peter Dutton would be worse, but I think there's no positive case for the Labor party either," said 22-year-old architecture student Jasmine Al-Rawi, who recently gained citizenship after relocating from New Zealand. Whilst it's predicted that generation Z will swing the result to the left, 18-year-old politics student Ava Cavalerie Johnson cautioned against the generalisation of her cohort. "I don't think it's true that the entire Gen Z population is voting towards the left," she said. "There are still a lot of conservative beliefs in politics. I think there will be a bigger shift to the left, but I don't think there'll be a full shift." A 2022 report by the Australian Election Study group indicated a trend among millennials and generation Z voters moving away from the two major parties. The report stated: "At no time in the 35-year history of the AES has there been such a low level of support for either major party in so large a segment." However 18-year-old arts and science student Darcy Palmer worries that there is not enough awareness around Australia's unique preferential voting system, which may discourage his peers from voting outside the two major parties. "A lot of young people will vote for Labor just so Dutton doesn't come in, instead of voting for who they actually want to vote for, like an independent or the Greens," he said. The result of the US election also weighs heavily on the minds of young voters, many of whom are scared that Australia will follow suit in a shift to the right. "I'm viewing the current election just in the sense of trying to avoid the situation that's happening over there," said 19-year-old arts student Jessica Louise Smith. "I feel not as focused on the genuine politics in Australia as I am simply avoiding the worst possible option." The Australian general election will be held on 3 May.
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Healthy but lonely gen Zers drive UK gym membership to record high
Record numbers of Britons are going to the gym, as the desire of many gen Zers to socialise while getting fit instead of drinking in the pub drives an unprecedented surge in membership, a report shows. In all, 11.5 million people aged 16 and over– a new high – now belong to a gym in the UK, a rise of 1.6 million from 2022. It means one in six people have taken out a membership. Younger adults are the key demographic behind the boom, according to the report's authors, UKActive, the trade body that represents most of Britain's fitness operators. The growth is particularly evident among generation Z – people born between 1997 and 2012, who are between 13 and 28 – who already have a reputation as the healthiest generation ever. '[This] is a significant moment as it shows that more people are making a conscious decision to get active in order to improve their physical and often also their mental health,' said Huw Edwards, UKActive's chief executive. 'We are witnessing strong demand among all age groups and increasing popularity among gen Z, with health and fitness clubs experiencing growing demand for services such as group exercise, strength training and cardio workouts. 'Young people are seeing health and fitness as part of their identity and a non-negotiable when it comes to their personal priorities. Many of them are telling us they prefer going to the gym rather than more traditional venues for socialising such as the pub. 'With the right support, this could become the most health-aware generation ever.' The findings tally with previous reports by Sport England and its 'moving communities' research into physical activity that growing numbers of teenagers are taking part in fitness activities. A 'generational shift' in gym visiting has been taking place in recent years, states the report, which is UKActive's first in-depth analysis of membership of health and fitness clubs across the UK. 'Younger generations are demonstrating higher levels of physical activity and gym membership, indicating a shift in societal priorities towards health and wellbeing, and suggesting that for younger people, gym membership is essential.' Older people are the most likely to avoid joining up because they believe they do not need to, 'indicating that the positive shift in mindset towards fitness is more prevalent among younger age groups', the report adds. The findings appear to embellish gen Z's reputation as having healthier habits and lifestyles than previous generations. David Minton, the founder of Leisure Database, a specialist fitness market analysis firm, said: 'The younger generation are also the healthier generation because they are drinking less alcohol than their predecessors and are much more conscious about what they eat, as evidenced by the increase in veganism, low-sugar diets and consumption of sourdough breads.' But young people may be going for reasons not connected to their health, Minton suggested. 'Gen Z are also going to the gym in order to meet a romantic partner and to increase their network of friends because, while they spend a lot of time on social media, the gym offers an in-person experience rather than a virtual experience. 'For them, gym-going is all about the social element. It's not about losing weight, because most of them don't need to.' The value of the UK health and fitness market grew to £5.7bn by last year, while the number of clubs stood at 5,607, which between them saw 616m visits. An increase in lower-cost gyms and those offering access on a pay-as-you-go basis has also helped to increase participation, the report says. When gym members were asked what motivated them to join, 83% cited improving their physical strength and fitness and 76% said boosting their mental wellbeing, including tackling anxiety and depression. But 75% wanted to improve their confidence and appearance, and 68% to sleep better. The proportion of people in the UK who belong to a gym has risen to 16.9%, one of the highest figures in Europe.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rising number of Canadians seek to switch careers, survey says
A growing number of Canadian workers are looking to switch careers — and many younger professionals have already done so — according to a recent survey from Express Employment Professionals and Harris Poll. More than half, or 56 per cent, of Canadian job seekers who want to switch careers say they plan to move into a completely new industry, while 47 per cent say they plan to make a change but within their own field. 'In an era where career paths are increasingly non-linear, it's essential to cultivate a workplace that values adaptability and continuous growth,' said Express Employment International's chief executive, Bill Stoller. The poll highlighted a significant trend in career mobility, with 73 per cent of Canadian professionals saying they believe it is never too late to switch careers. It also said that 56 per cent of workers have already switched careers at least once, while only 16 per cent said they had never made a career change and never plan to. An overwhelming number of job seekers (nine in 10) said they would switch careers if they had the resources, according to the poll. Three-quarters said that seeing others working in non-traditional settings, such as remotely or from home, influences their desire to pursue similar opportunities. The survey also found that generation Z and millennial workers are almost as likely as their older counterparts to switch industries at some point in their careers, even though they have been in the job market for a shorter period of time. It said that one third of both generation Z and millennial professionals had already switched careers multiple times. These generations of workers are also more likely to express interest in a career change than generation X and baby boomers are. As career switching or switching job functions within a field become more common, companies should prepare for employees looking to make these transitions, the report said. Despite this, only 19 per cent of Canadian hiring managers reported an increase in employees switching careers over the past three years, and the majority, or 71 per cent, say the number has remained about the same. Americans are happier at work than Canadians Here's how to make a successful career leap Thinking of a career change? Consider these implications The report said many believe the current job market is slowing this trend, with 72 per cent feeling that fewer job opportunities have made employees more hesitant to make the leap. The surveys were conducted online among 505 Canadian hiring managers from Nov. 11 to 26, and 505 Canadian job seekers from Nov. 21 to Dec. 6. • Email: dpaglinawan@ Sign in to access your portfolio
