Gen Z, USA News: Young adults feel lonelier working from home than older generations, according to new research. Data from the Bupa Wellbeing Index indicates a rise in the proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds who feel that working alone makes them lonely, increasing from 42 per cent in 2025 to 47 per cent in 2026, which accounts for nearly half of the age group.
Across all surveyed age groups, 34 per cent reported in 2026 that working alone makes them feel lonely, marking a one-point decrease from 35 per cent the previous year. By comparison, just 18 per cent of respondents aged 55 and older reported feeling lonely while working alone. For individuals aged 45 to 54, the figure stood at 28 per cent.
The data also points to a heavier impact of mental health issues on Gen Z workers relative to the general population. More than four in ten respondents, or 41 per cent, stated that mental health affected their ability to work over the past 12 months, contrasted with 29 per cent across all age groups. Furthermore, nearly nine in 10 younger workers at 87 per cent reported going to work with a mental health issue, compared to 70 per cent of all respondents.
Mental health was additionally cited more frequently as a contributing factor for Gen Z leaving work during the past 12 months. Some 35 per cent of adults aged 18 to 24 indicated it had an effect, compared to 24 per cent across all age groups.
Shazna Khanom, head of clinical mental health at Bupa, commented on the findings while awaiting the final publication of the Alan Milburn review of young people and work. Khanom emphasized that beyond helping young people secure employment, workplaces must foster environments where younger staff can feel connected, supported, and able to thrive. She noted that while remote and flexible working offer significant benefits, connection and mental wellbeing must remain priorities alongside them, defining the creation of mentally healthy workplaces as a shared responsibility.
Additional data from the Office for National Statistics covering July to September demonstrated elevated feelings of loneliness generally among younger demographics. Approximately 34 per cent of individuals aged 16 to 29 reported always feeling lonely or experiencing loneliness often or some of the time, contrasted with 25 per cent of people of all ages and 22 per cent of those aged 50 to 69.
Clinical psychologist Dr Meg Jay noted that the workplace as a second space is declining due to the rise of remote work, impacting social interaction. Dr Jay remarked that while work is becoming more convenient, relationships are becoming less convenient. Additional concerns were raised regarding the potential rise of artificial intelligence, with cautions that lonely young adults might lean toward chatbots rather than human interactions, while a Centre for Social Justice spokesperson warned that charities are confronting unprecedented levels of loneliness.
