How Gen Z and millennials will shape the 2024 elections

This election year is already shaping up to be an intense one, as geopolitical conflicts and civil rights losses have been upping tensions in the workplace and driving feelings of burnout among Gen Z and millennial voters. 

When asked which issues were top of mind for young voters, continued loss of access to reproductive autonomy and economic insecurity further stressed by the loss of President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan rank towards the top, according to DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org. Meanwhile, an NY Times and Sienna College poll found that 72% of registered voters in the 18-to-29 age demographic disapprove of the current administration's involvement in Gaza.

There's no getting around what looks like an especially politically charged year, and employers should know what's on their young workers' minds, notes Getachew. While in the past, the rule of thumb was to keep politics outside the workplace, that doesn't necessarily apply anymore. According to Glassdoor, 64% of Gen Z and 63% of millennials report discussing politics at work.

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"When we engage with young people, they tell us the three pillars of issues that really matter to them, and that's driving their passion," says Getachew. "Among those is safety and well-being, injustice and economic uncertainty."

Getachew explains that the focus on safety typically is rooted in the increase in gun violence in the U.S. and the fear young workers and young parents alike share when it comes to school shootings. This pillar also extends beyond just physical safety, with young voters placing more emphasis on mental health care access — according to a Harvard Youth Poll, 56% of Americans under 30 report feeling anxious at least several times a week.

Moreover, it's no secret that Gen Z belongs to the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, as well as the most open in identifying with the LGBTQ community. Getachew emphasizes that when it comes to injustice, young voters are paying close attention to how marginalized people are being treated and how laws either protect or deny autonomy. 

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"We live in what has become the most diverse society to date, and young people across the intersectional spectrum of identities hope to see our society grant more rights for individuals," she says. "They're thinking about how we ensure our democracy welcomes and embraces the diversity of ideas that exist in a way that protects those ideas."

As for economic uncertainty, there's no escaping the fact that Gen Z and millennials have very different expectations for what their lives will look like. Approximately 30% don't think they will ever own a home, according to a Redfin survey, and 17% of millennials don't anticipate ever leaving the workforce fully to retire, according to IRA solutions provider Iralogix. Add in the fact that a third of Americans under 30 have student loan debt, paired with increasing grocery and rent prices, and it's clear many young voters feel insecure about their financial future. 

This election year will also likely highlight the distrust young voters have in the U.S. government. Getachew notes that only 17% of DoSomething's members believe lawmakers consider their voices when making policies. The campaign to put "uncommitted" on their primary ballots — in which hundreds of thousands of voters cast their ballots for no candidates in the Democratic primaries in response to the war on Gaza — further underlines the frustration many young voters are feeling with their choices this year. 

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Getachew points out that, ultimately, for democracy to function, people need to be vocal about what they feel is best for their country. This means having conversations, learning, organizing and voting.

"It is so important for people to stay engaged in this full contact sport that is democracy," says Getachew. "I'm excited and energized by young people heading into this election year. I'm also hopeful that they will continue to stay engaged after they've passed that ballot for the elected officials this year and to hold them accountable."