On 20 July 2024, the former Federal Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Sigmar Gabriel, stated on X that many young people being a part of GenZ and the Millennials are not willing to work. He said: “At the top and at the bottom: fewer and fewer people are willing to make an effort.” This statement turned out to be mostly false.
With his tweet, Gabriels supports the statement made by the former head of the Federal Employment Agency, Frank-Jürgen Weise. He points to the latest figures from the Federal Employment Agency, which show that 250,000 people are not working even though they could. The twist: Weise isn’t only talking about Gen Z and Millennials. He includes people up to 45 years old.
The key focus in this claim lies on the word “could.”
In reality, more than 625,000 young people aged 15 to 26 fall into the category of NEETs.
What are NEETs?
So called NEETs are people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training.
Looking at the trend over the past three years, youth unemployment has risen continuously. This particularly affects young people without vocational qualifications. Approximately 70% of unemployed young people do not have a vocational qualification, which significantly reduces their chances on the job market. This problem is particularly prevalent in East Germany. Since 2012, the number of training opportunities has declined significantly, making it difficult to enter the job market. While there were 80 apprenticeships per 100 school leavers in 2012, this figure fell to 63 in 2023. In West Germany, however, the trend has been reversed since 2014: the ratio rose from 61 to 100 to 75 to 100 in 2023.
The reasons for this lack of orientation often remain unclear. Sociologists see the coronavirus pandemic as a possible cause. “Corona has deprived many young people of the opportunity to find their career direction for a long period of time,” says education researcher Clemens Wieland of the Bertelsmann Foundation. In order to help affected young people, a system change is needed, says Andrea Nahles, head of the Federal Employment Agency. “We lose up to 130,000 young people every year due to unresolved data protection issues, and street workers then struggle to get back in touch with them.” Therefore, it is more important than ever to actively encourage young people to continue their education. If the government fails to take this step, the consequences will be severe.
What about work-life-balance?
On the other hand, Sigmar Gabriel takes issue with the Generation Z’s concept of the everyday work life. People born between 1995 and 2010 form this generation. A generation that is characterized by a new way of thinking, putting mental health on an important spot. A choice not everyone agrees on. Such as Gabriel. In his second part of the tweet he states: “And those who are wealthy take a sabbatical after school at mom and dad’s expense, followed by a four-day week…”.
The four-day workweek is a new approach in order to increase the work motivation and the well-being of employees. The various approaches to the concept aim to either reduce the general working hours from, for example, 40 to 32 hours while maintaining the same salary or to distribute the current hours over four days. A different way of working that especially appeals to Generation Z. A recent study done by BuchhaltungsButler and DataPulse Research from November 2024 states exactly that. Of the more than 1,000 respondents, 97% of 18- to 24-year-olds would like to at least try the four-day week, while 75% of Gen Z workers would be willing to give up their current job for a four-day work week – even if their salary would drop to 80% of their previous income. This observation shows that young people do want to work, but that they simply have different priorities, keeping in mind, that good work only comes from a healthy well-being.
Conclusion
Sigmar Gabriel’s assertion that young people today are unwilling to work fails to account for the complex realities behind youth unemployment and shifting work values. While it is true that a large number of young people fall into the NEET category, structural issues such as declining training opportunities, regional disparities, and the long-term impact of the pandemic play an important role in shaping these statistics. Moreover, the widespread interest in alternative work models like the four-day week does not indicate laziness, but rather a redefinition of what a healthy and fulfilling work life looks like for Generation Z. Young people are not turning away from work—they are demanding a system that values well-being alongside of productivity. To ensure long-term social and economic stability, policymakers must recognize these shifts and actively support modern approaches to employment and education.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE © Emely Sträter | Hochschule der Medien, Stuttgart, Germany
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