Why Gen Zs and millennials are giving up their day jobs in their droves – even if it means they can no longer afford to pay the bills

Many millennials and Generation-Z workers are suffering from what is being termed the ‘Great Burnout’, prompting them to quit their jobs despite struggling to pay their bills as a result.

Young workers claim they are overworked, underpaid and feel unable to deal with responsibilities outside their jobs.

Many complain they are sick of ‘working all week and having nothing to show for it’ while others complain they ‘can’t afford a holiday, let alone a home’.

This has led to criticism from Boomers and Gen-Xers who slam the younger generations as ‘lazy’ and ‘entitled’.

The millennial co-hosts of the Two Broke Chicks podcast, Sally and Alex, claim the younger generations aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch.

They have shared research showing 50 per cent of ‘prime’ Australian workers, those aged between 25 and 55, are ‘exhausted’.

On top of that a third are thinking of quitting because they are overworked.

‘Half of them are feeling, not tired, not a little bit overworked, exhausted,’ 30-year-old Sally said in the clip which was posted on Friday.

The quick clip divided their listeners.

Many older viewers in the comments were not sympathetic and quick to take aim at young workers telling them to ‘harden up’.

‘Breaking news, people get tired,’ one man quipped.

‘That’s the norm, isn’t it? You just keep on keeping on, it’s called living,’ said a second viewer.

‘That’s crazy because I’m exhausted from the constant whinging!’ complained a third.

‘I am 60 and the demands are a joke now while executives take the big money. The young ones at my work are also exhausted,’ someone added.

Most millennials and Generation-Z considered the research data ‘accurate’ with many agreeing their jobs are leaving them feeling drained.

‘Companies are cutting jobs, but still expecting the same results with less staff,’ one woman replied.

‘We aren’t working for anything worth it in return. Work all week, can’t afford a house, holiday or anything that makes it worth it. Just bills,’ another said.

‘We are exhausted. Had enough. Working out a**es off for nothing. While the wealthy take in loads of money while they sit back and do nothing,’ a third said ranted.

The mass exhaustion across Australian workplaces has been referred to as The Great Burnout.

A 2023 study from the University of Melbourne surveyed 1,400 workers and found the workers increasingly feeling unmotivated, exhausted and unable to concentrate in the post-lockdown era.

It was also revealed prime-aged workers are twice as likely to feel like they don’t have enough time to complete tasks outside their jobs like life admin and housework.

Read More: Why Gen Zs and millennials are giving up their day jobs

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