Ireland

Irish millennials pessimistic about social future, survey says

Group of multicultural friends using smartphone outdoors - People hands addicted by mobile smart phone - Technology concept with connected men and women - Shallow depth of field on vintage filter tone
Group of multicultural friends using smartphone outdoors - People hands addicted by mobile smart phone - Technology concept with connected men and women - Shallow depth of field on vintage filter tone Group of multicultural friends using smartphone outdoors - People hands addicted by mobile smart phone - Technology concept with connected men and women - Shallow depth of field on vintage filter tone

Irish millennials are disillusioned with traditional institutions and are pessimistic about economic and social progress, a recent survey has found.

According to the 2019 Deloitte millennial survey, just 28 per cent of young people in the Republic believe the economy will improve in the next 12 months and nearly half cited climate change and protecting the environment as their most pressing concern.

The findings of the survey also show the ambitions of this generation remain strong.

Around 67 per cent of respondents say that travelling and seeing the world is their top ambition while nearly two-thirds also want to earn high salaries and be wealthy.

In comparison to their global counterparts, more Irish respondents wish to buy their own home and have children.

Climate change and protecting the environment is the top concern among millennials, as indicated by 48 per cent, significantly higher than the global average of 29 per cent.

Recent research has revealed that millennials have an increasingly pessimistic outlook on economic, social and political affairs.

Only 28 per cent of respondents believe the economy will improve in the next 12 months, down from 56 per cent just two years ago while only 21 per cent believe that the social/political situation will improve in the next year.

The survey's findings show that the majority of young people believe that reduced usage of social media would have a positive effect on their physical and mental health.

Some 67 per cent believe that, on balance, social media does more harm than good, and 42 per cent would like to completely stop using social media.

They are also sceptical when it comes to cybersecurity.

Similarly, 76 per cent are worried about how organisations obtain personal information and 75 per cent feel they have no control over who has their personal data or how they use it.

This year's report sees a further negative shift in millennials' feelings about business' motivations and ethics.

Under half of respondents think businesses in general have a positive impact on the wider society in which they operate, down from 61 per cent in 2018.

The decrease was driven, in part, by views that businesses focus solely on their own agendas rather than considering the consequences for society, as identified by 82 per cent of Irish respondents.

Valarie Daunt, head of human capital at Deloitte Ireland, said: "From the economic recession a decade ago to the fourth industrial revolution, millennials have grown up in a unique moment in time impacting connectivity, trust, privacy, social mobility and work.

"This uncertainty is reflected in their personal views on business, government, leadership and the need for positive societal change agents.

"As business leaders, we must continue to embrace the issues resonating most with this generation, or risk losing out on talent in an increasingly competitive market."