Members of Generation Z have been openly vocal about their frustration with corporate work life, expressing how it fails to meet their expectations, especially amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. A flood of TikTok content reflects their dissatisfaction, portraying a generation that feels disconnected from traditional work norms.
According to a recent survey by Qualtrics on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma, nearly 60% of Gen Z participants described conventional 9-to-5 jobs as “soul-sucking.” The same study revealed that 57% of respondents from this generation are adopting the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) philosophy—a financial strategy focused on aggressively saving and investing to enable early retirement, often well before reaching 65.
This trend highlights a significant shift in mindset, where many Gen Zers are looking for ways to escape the daily grind and find more meaningful, flexible alternatives to traditional employment. Their discontent doesn’t necessarily mean they’re opposed to working altogether—it’s more about the lack of purpose they feel in their roles and the toll it takes on their mental health.
Take Andra Berghoff from Minnesota, for example. She previously worked in marketing at a healthcare company but found the job neither rewarding nor financially sustainable. In a TikTok clip that quickly gained traction, she remarked, “If I had to do this corporate drone thing for the rest of my life, I would rather clock out eternally.” Her candid admission struck a chord with many young professionals who feel similarly trapped in jobs that offer little satisfaction.
Dissatisfaction isn’t limited to low-wage earners either. Many high-income Gen Z workers are also unhappy, believing their pay does not reflect the growing cost of living. Despite earning six figures or more, they still worry about falling behind financially and not being able to sustain a decent quality of life.
To counter this, a substantial portion of this generation is willing to make drastic changes. Over 40% of those surveyed said they are ready to reduce non-essential spending, such as cutting back on dining out and unnecessary shopping. Additionally, one-third are contemplating taking up multiple side gigs or odd jobs to boost their income. Nearly 25% indicated they might move back in with their families or close friends to save on living costs. Meanwhile, 17% of respondents said they would consider leaning on a partner for financial assistance.
While searching for stability, some are opting to disengage from the hustle without quitting altogether. About 29% of Gen Z workers admitted to practicing “quiet quitting,” a term that refers to doing only what’s required at work without overextending themselves. This approach involves drawing clearer work-life boundaries and prioritizing mental wellness over performance-driven expectations.
Rather than embracing the grind that older generations may have accepted as a necessary sacrifice, many Gen Z individuals are looking for an exit strategy. For them, early retirement isn’t just a dream—it’s a goal supported by a concrete financial roadmap. They’re embracing the FIRE strategy, a concept that originated with millennials, which urges extreme savings, strategic investing, and a minimalist lifestyle to reach financial freedom sooner than traditional retirement plans allow.
The usual target for FIRE followers is to save about 70% of their annual income until they accumulate a portfolio of roughly $1 million or 30 times their yearly expenses. Once that goal is achieved, they often step away from full-time employment. Post-retirement, they aim to withdraw only a small percentage of their savings each year to preserve their nest egg. Some also explore passive income sources, such as rental properties or dividend-paying investments, to supplement their finances during retirement.
Central to this strategy is the idea of budgeting wisely, slashing unnecessary expenditures, and identifying alternate income streams as early in life as possible. Unlike previous generations who might have waited until their 40s or 50s to begin serious financial planning, Gen Z is trying to take control of their finances in their 20s.
One major advantage young workers have is the relative lack of financial burdens that come with later stages of life. Without the responsibilities of caring for aging parents or raising young children—challenges that often define the “sandwich generation”—many Gen Zers are in a better position to save aggressively if they choose to. They also seem less interested in climbing the corporate ladder and more focused on achieving work-life balance and personal fulfillment.
This mindset shift reflects a growing skepticism about the traditional model of labor and retirement. Many in Gen Z have seen older generations spend decades working tirelessly, sacrificing family time and personal ambitions, only to enjoy freedom in their twilight years. It’s a path that no longer appeals to many young workers, who are increasingly opting for financial independence as a means to reclaim control over their time and well-being.
The FIRE movement has provided a blueprint for such a lifestyle. While not everyone will manage to retire in their 30s or 40s, the movement’s core principles—live below your means, invest wisely, and plan early—are gaining popularity among a generation that feels betrayed by the corporate promise of stability and growth. These young Americans are determined not to follow in the footsteps of those who burned themselves out in pursuit of retirement at 65.
Ultimately, for Gen Z, the goal is about more than just quitting work—it’s about designing a life that doesn’t revolve around it. The appeal of early retirement lies in the freedom to explore new paths, prioritize mental health, and live with purpose rather than paycheck to paycheck. With rising inflation, stagnant wages, and a deepening disconnect between effort and reward, it’s no wonder they’re looking for an alternative.
As more young people reconsider what success looks like, movements like FIRE offer a framework to exit the rat race on their own terms. And while not everyone will reach that million-dollar milestone, the growing awareness around financial independence marks a significant cultural shift in how the newest generation of workers views money, employment, and the future.