This observation explores the agency and optimism South Africa’s Gen Zs have about their future and the future of the nation. It digs deeper into the reasons behind their self confidence and social doubts.
Continue reading to find out more.
What we learnt:
83% are optimistic about their personal future, while 54% are optimistic about South Africa’s future. 77% think they have the agency to change the future of their own life and South Africa at large.
A lot more are optimistic about their personal than their country’s future. Overall, there’s a sense of agency indicated by this group.
“I’m very optimistic about everything because I really think that we are heading towards something great if everyone could just use their full potential, I think we, as South Africa can be like, quite a brilliant place to be and could be. It’s not to say that things aren’t bad. They are terrible with what’s going on with greedy people, however, it has the potential of being great. So, I am very optimistic that we will get a leader that would look out for all our interests and not self-interest. And I think someone is still out there to fix that.” – Lerato (27, Black, female)
“For South Africa, it’s, I can’t really put a finger on being optimistic or pessimistic because I can see some of the people that I grew up with that are headed in the right direction. They are getting employed and all of that. But there’s still so many other people that aren’t. So I’m right in the middle.” Sunita – (22, Mixed race, female)
“I think it’s more like one day at a time like. You still develop your future here and then you’ll just see if something happens but I believe we have such a good life. I think going overseas and you see what happens there in terms of it being a hard lifestyle. I’m not talking about politics here. I’m just talking about quality of life. I just think that we do have it very easy and we know what we’re dealing with when you go overseas you don’t know what you’re dealing with.” – Alana (25, White, female)
“It looks like I’ll be able to have food on my table and I’ll be able to have clothes on my back, but it doesn’t feel like it’s a future where I’ll be able to travel if I want to or a future where I can have leisure or like find dining whenever I want to, which are things that I like, but realistically looking at the economy and looking at my age and looking at all of these other factors, it just feels like, yes, I’ll be stable, but the dreams that I had as a young child that I’ll open an organisation, that I’ll travel and my kids will be like this, then that doesn’t feel possible anymore. So kind of false promises and hopes and dreams kind of thing.” – Hlengiwe (28, Black, female)
“In terms of confidence, real confidence, having both optimism and agency and all of the participants scored very highly on both of those topics. They’re very optimistic, they’ve got a personal future and they’re also very self-confident that they will direct their future in a positive direction.” – Dion, Bronwyn, Ronen
“And when that sort of happiness expectation turns into a deficit, that’s when you have a lot of disruption in society.” – Dion, Bronwyn, Ronen
What does the research/experts say:
According to a poll by Gallup, members of Gen Z in the US are optimistic about their future. They describe it as an “enduring optimism”. 82% believe they will achieve their goals. 76% think they have a great future ahead of them. 66% feel they can nab a dream job.
According to the African Youth Survey – South Africa 30 Years Of Democracy report by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 74% believe South Africa is headed in the wrong direction, up from 63% in 2022.
It is encouraging to see that despite the mental health challenges this generation faces, they remain hopeful about their future and feel empowered to steer its course. Some may attribute this to the naivety of youth, and this may well be the case. It takes personal strength to remain positive in the face of economic uncertainty, political instability and environmental catastrophe, not to forget the pandemic they were coming of age during. Studies have found that optimism is associated with better health outcomes, both mentally and physically.
They feel less hopeful about the direction of the country, however, over which they feel they have little control. Many people, older generations included, have trouble seeing how the actions of one individual can make a difference in the direction of a country. Many are devoting most of their energy to surviving and do not have the time or energy to dedicate to civic participation.
What can businesses and policymakers do about this?
A positive mindset is beneficial but not sufficient to achieve a great future. We want our young people to be cautiously optimistic. Just as Gen Z need to prepare themselves for the future, so too do older generations have a responsibility to help them achieve their goals. Older generations could provide mentorship (in a personal and professional capacity) that inspires but also exposes them to some of the harsher realities they may face. It’s not about quashing their dreams. It’s about using years of life experience to advise and support them.
Optimists bring energy to the workplace coupled with enthusiasm, creativity, and resilience – all of which drive innovation, collaboration, and success.
Supporting and harnessing the optimism of young people will drive positive change and contribute to the well-being of society. Give Gen Z the tools they need to achieve personal success. Provide young people with quality education and training programs that equip them with the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to succeed in the 21st-century economy. Support their drive for entrepreneurship through accessible funding and incubators. Establish anti-discrimination policies in all aspects of society, including education, employment, and public services.
Policymakers should work to re-establish trust with young people. Give youth a reason to believe things will improve through actions, not words.
By Flux Trends
The data and quotes mentioned above refer to a project that we are in the midst of, in conjunction with Student Village called “The 30/30/30 Project” whereby we collected insights from 30 South Africans, under the age of 30, 30 years into our new democracy.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Book the From GenZ to Gen Alpha trend briefing, to get access to the latest insights about Gen Alpha.
Contact Bethea Clayton at connected@fluxtrends.co.za or +27764539405 to book this trend briefing for your team or clients.
–Image credit: Kevin Schmid
