Gen Z doesn’t trust anyone—especially their bosses, data shows

Only 13% of Gen Z respondents say most people can be trusted, according to a political scientist from Washington University in St. Louis. In contrast, 74% believe it's best to be cautious. Ryan Burge, a professor and data analyst at the university, notes that Gen Z will be the least trusting generation in modern American history.

This distrust is evident in personal relationships and the workplace. Millennials are slightly more trusting (24%), while Gen X and Boomers show similar levels of trust (30% and 29% respectively). The Silent Generation, born before 1945, is the most trusting at 41%. This distrust colors how Gen Z interacts with others and shapes the modern workplace, where ghosting, layoffs, and side hustles are prevalent.

Burge attributes the trust gap to factors like religion, education, and upbringing, particularly the extra caution instilled in Gen Z by their parents. They feel terrified of making mistakes and this leads to a lack of trust in others. A sheltered upbringing, compounded by COVID-19, cancel culture, social media scrutiny, and cynicism, has resulted in loss aversion, where losing feels worse than winning feels good.

Gen Z's distrust of coworkers is 16 times higher than Gen X employees, and they're also more skeptical of their employers. Only 41% of Gen Z employees trust their employers, compared to about 65% of millennials and 71% of baby boomers. A 2025 GenHQ study found that 47% of Gen Z have quit a job due to lack of trust in leadership, and 45% would accept a 10% pay cut to work for a boss they completely trust.

Trust plays a significant role in employee retention. However, corporate practices have evolved to make workers skeptical of companies using AI to justify layoffs. Many Gen Z workers have witnessed their parents burnout and get fired, leading them to prioritize work-life balance and seek non-linear career paths. Social media and "ghost jobs" have amplified mistrust.

The surveillance boom further damages the trust between employers and employees. While being less trusting can protect one from being taken advantage of, it also hinders true connections. McCarrick, a corporate soft skills expert, believes Gen Z workers should strive for a baseline level of trust in colleagues and employers, but not blindly trust anyone. Employers must foster trust over time through interactions and relationships.