Charted: How Generations Will Shape the Workforce by 2035

How Generations Will Shape the Workforce by 2035

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The year 2025 marks the start of a new generation: the Betas. This group will include everyone born over the next 15 years.

In this graphic, we compare the current workforce with the projected workforce by 2035, broken down by generation, based on data from McCrindle as of May 2024.

Baby Boomers Will Fully Exit the Workforce

Baby Boomers (ages 61-79), who comprise 20% of the U.S. population and own half of the country’s net wealth, will be virtually out of the workforce by 2035.

Gen Z (ages 16-30) and younger generations are projected to make up half of the workforce within the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, Generation Alpha (15 and younger) is expected to grow rapidly, reaching 19% of the workforce by 2035. This generation is also projected to surpass Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z in size, with a population of more than 2 billion, making it the largest generation in history.

Generations Defined

For this analysis, McCrindle examines the following cohorts, each adhering to a 15-year pattern:

• Baby Boomers (1946-1964, age 61-79): Born during the post-WWII baby boom, they drove major cultural, social, and economic shifts.
• Generation X (1965-1979, age 46-60): Known for embracing entrepreneurship, anti-establishment movements, and economic prosperity.
• Millennials (1980-1994, age 31-45): Also referred to as Generation Y, they are known for their tech-savviness, social consciousness, and a shift away from traditional goals like homeownership.
• Generation Z (1995-2009, age 16-30): The first generation to grow up with smartphones, social media, and constant internet access from a young age.
• Generation Alpha (2010-2024, age 15 and younger): The children of Millennials, growing up in a highly digital, tech-driven world.
• Gen Beta (2025-2039, 1-not born yet): The generation just beginning, born into a world of rapid technological and environmental change.

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If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic that shows the distribution of wealth in the United States from 1990 to 2023 by generation.