Environmental, economic uncertainty among young Canadians: study

Young Canadians have an increasingly pessimistic view of the planet’s future when it comes to climate change, and they feel less able to make a difference.

That’s according to a new Léger study exploring how Generation Z and Millennial Canadians feel about their own future, their personal finances, and their careers.

More than half of young Canadians (51 per cent – compared to 43 per cent last year) believe the world’s environmental situation will deteriorate next year. And 37 per cent have a sombre view of their ability to limit the consequences of these changes (compared to 30 per cent in 2022).

More young Canadians (60 per cent, up from 53 per cent) say they are concerned about the consequences associated with climate change.

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It’s all part of what Léger calls the biggest Canadian study exploring Gen Z and Millennial trends, with 3,015 Canadians surveyed.

The overall portrait it paints is one of environmental and economic uncertainty and a fragile confidence in the future.

Financially, more young Canadians say they are living paycheque to paycheque (51 per cent compared to 48 per cent in 2022. Nearly three-quarters of them (72 per cent) believe they pay too much for rent, and nearly one-third (29 per cent) said their personal financial situation was in “bad shape.”

In terms of their careers, 15 per cent expressed a desire to quit their jobs this year. Half of those identified salary as the main reason for wanting to do so.