Today’s 25-year-olds remain engaged in work and study, but are under greater financial strain, experience poorer mental health and take longer to achieve independence than previous generations.
The latest LSAY infographic, Generation Z: navigating life at 25, compares the experiences of 25-year-olds in 2013, 2019 and 2025, revealing how life at 25 has changed over the past decade.
John King, Managing Director of NCVER, said the findings offer a unique window into how the lives of young Australians have changed over time.
‘LSAY allows us to look beyond individual measures of employment or education and understand how young people's lives are evolving more broadly. Young Australians remain highly engaged in work and learning, but the environment in which they're building their lives looks very different to a decade ago.’
At age 25, around nine in ten young Australians were working across all three cohorts, while around one in five were studying, suggesting that participation in education and employment remains a central feature of young adulthood.
However, the nature of work has changed.
Among employed young people, the proportion working full-time fell from 75% in 2013 to 65% in 2025, while underemployment increased from 9% to 13%.
Financial stress and mental health concerns increased sharply over the period. Financial stress doubled from 18% in 2013 to 37% in 2025, and those with high levels of psychological distress rose from 5% to 18%.
'While young Australians remain motivated and engaged, the data shows many are finding it harder to achieve financial security and maintain their mental wellbeing.’
The findings also show employment outcomes differ across qualification pathways. Among those who completed an apprenticeship or traineeship as their highest qualification, the proportion who have a permanent job at age 25 has increased from 78% to 82%, while for those with a university degree, the proportion increased from 71% to 80%. For those with VET qualifications other than an apprenticeship or traineeship, the proportion in permanent employment fell from 60% to 54%.
The data also suggests traditional milestones associated with independence may be occurring later than they once did.
In 2025, 44% of 25-year-olds were living with their parents, up from 38% in 2013, while the proportion who were married declined from 13% to 9%.
This publication marks the final major release from LSAY, ending one of Australia's longest-running longitudinal studies of young people.
For 30 years, LSAY has followed more than 60,000 young Australians from age 15 through to age 25, creating a unique evidence base on education, training, employment and life beyond school. Six cohorts have participated in the study since it commenced in 1995.
‘LSAY has helped build a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing generations of young Australians as they move from school into further study, work and adult life,’ Mr King said.
‘As the program concludes, these final findings provide an important reflection on how life at 25 has changed over time and add to the LSAY evidence base that helps inform research, policy and programs for young Australians.’
Background:
The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) track young Australians from age 15 to 25, capturing their experiences as they progress through their final years of school, leave school, pursue further study, and enter the workforce. Insights from LSAY help researchers, policymakers and educators better understand and support young people’s transitions into adulthood.
Generation Z: navigating life at 25 draws on data from the three separate cohorts at age 25. This final major LSAY release examines young people's experiences of work, study, health and wellbeing. It also compares the experiences of 25-year-olds in 2013, 2019 and 2025, revealing how life at 25 has changed over the past decade.
Download the infographic: Generation Z: navigating life at 25
Related resources:
Enquiries: Elise Stone P: +61 8 8230 8443 E: communications@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: we are the main provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Education.