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The stereotype is stubborn: Millennials and Gen Z are restless job-hoppers, flitting from gig to gig, chasing better pay or vibes. Meanwhile, Boomers, the story goes, stuck it out for decades, loyal to the end. But fresh data flips the script—younger workers aren’t the serial switchers they’re made out to be, and their elders weren’t exactly glued to their desks either.
A 2025 study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) crunched the numbers on career moves across generations. The verdict? Millennials (born 1981–1996) and Gen Z (born 1997–2012) average 5.8 job changes by age 30—fewer than the 6.3 shifts Boomers (born 1946–1964) racked up by the same age in the 1970s and ‘80s. “The myth of the flaky young worker doesn’t hold up,” says labor economist David Tran. “Context matters.”
Back in the Boomer heyday, job-hopping was practically a sport. Post-war economic booms meant opportunities galore—new industries, fat raises, and promotions dangled like carrots. “Switching was how you climbed,” Tran explains. A factory worker might jump to a rival for a 10% bump or ditch a desk job for a startup. Loyalty? It paid less than ambition.
Fast forward, and the game’s changed. Millennials and Gen Z face a tighter market—fewer entry-level roles, student debt, and gig-economy traps. When they do switch, it’s often calculated: 62% cite stagnant wages or burnout, per a LinkedIn survey, not whimsy. “I left my last job after three years because I hit a ceiling,” says 28-year-old coder Priya Patel. “It wasn’t impulsive—it was survival.”
Boomers, now retired or winding down, sometimes scoff. “We stayed put and built something,” says 68-year-old retiree Tom Evans, who held one job for 35 years. But the BLS data suggest his generation’s early years were less tethered—only later, with pensions and stability, did they settle. Younger workers don’t have that luxury; just 3% of private-sector jobs offer pensions today, down from 60% in the ‘80s.
Experts say the “disloyal” label misses the point. “Millennials and Gen Z value growth over tenure,” says career coach Lena Ortiz. “If a job doesn’t deliver, they move.” And employers aren’t helping—flat hierarchies and contract work push turnover. Gen Z’s TikTok rants about “quiet quitting” reflect frustration, not flightiness.
So, who’s the real hopper? Boomers had their day, riding economic tailwinds. Today’s young workers are just adapting to choppier seas. “Call it disloyalty if you want,” Patel says, “but I’d rather switch than sink.”
