Economic crisis, refugee crisis, corona pandemic and Ukraine war: Austria’s 16 to 25-year-olds are growing up in turbulent times. Generation Z’s view of the future is correspondingly bleak. There is pessimism when it comes to issues such as climate change, education, energy transition and migration. Disenchantment with politics is great, and there is also a return to traditional values. This shows a survey by ORF, Ö3 and the SORA survey institute.
“The war in Europe, but also in other countries around the world, is currently the greatest concern of this generation,” said Martina Zandonella from the social research institute SORA yesterday when the survey was presented. 88 percent of the 24,000 young people surveyed from March 10 to April 3 expressed concern. Climate change worries 69 percent of those surveyed, and the widening gap between rich and poor 62 percent.
In general, it can be said that young people are pessimistic about most of the major future issues, said Zandonella. The topics of education, energy transition and migration are also affected. 68 percent believe that “a lot went wrong” in schools, teaching and at universities during the corona pandemic.
The numbers also clearly show young people’s disenchantment with politics. According to the survey, only six percent feel well represented by politicians, 87 percent have little or no trust in politics.
Source: Nachrichten
