Blog
May 13, 2026
This morning, at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (Aula Álvaro del Portillo), the results of the youth listening survey Footprints: Young people’s values, hopes and expectations were presented. The research, conducted between January and February 2026, involved a sample of over 9,000 young people (aged 18–29) across 9 countries (Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States), outlining a redefinition of the concepts of work, well-being and personal fulfilment among Generation Z and Millennials.
Workplace well-being and “emotional salary”
48% of the young people surveyed stated that they would be willing to leave a stable and well-paid job if the working environment were perceived as “toxic”. This tendency is more pronounced among women (53%) than among men (43%).
Salary nevertheless remains a priority factor for 29% of the global sample, with higher percentages in Argentina and Mexico (35%). Alongside the economic component, the issue of the so-called “emotional salary” is increasingly emerging, linked to the quality of the work environment and psychological well-being.
Among the factors influencing career choices are also personal fulfilment and the work environment: in the Philippines (19%) and Italy (17%), “personal fulfilment” represents the main work priority.
The meaning of work
When asked about the meaning of work, 15% of young people ranked “passion” first, closely followed by “professional career” (14%). “Necessity” and “responsibility” followed (both at 13%), while “opportunity” (9%), “achievement” (8%), “creativity” and “vocation” (6%) occupied intermediate positions. The terms least associated with the concept of work were “duty”, “service” and “sacrifice” (5%).
Believers attributed greater importance to “responsibility” than their non-believing peers (+5 percentage points), while placing “necessity” lower in the ranking. In the same vein, respondents dissatisfied with their lives tended to associate work mainly with the concepts of “necessity” and “opportunity”.
Professional vocation and well-being
The report highlights a significant correlation between a sense of vocation and perceived well-being: 55% of young people who state that they have a professional vocation describe themselves as happy, compared to 27% of those who do not perceive one. The sectors most associated with a strong sense of calling are healthcare, education and engineering.
The “Happiness Gap”: the impact of faith on well-being
Another relevant element concerns the role of faith. Young believers report an average happiness level of 7.1, compared to 6.3 among non-believers. The so-called “Happiness Gap” is particularly evident in Latin America, with Brazil (7.5) and Mexico (7.4) recording the highest values.
In terms of individual perception, 81% of believing young people state that their faith represents an important guide in everyday decisions. Moreover, more than 60% say that their work also has a spiritual meaning, while 54% consider it a space for spiritual expression or search.
Geographically, the centrality of religion is more pronounced in Kenya (97%) and the Philippines (94%), while Europe records a lower incidence. In Italy, 53% of young people consider religion a point of reference.
Social and community participation
The data also show higher civic participation among believing young people: 32% participate in religious organisations and 21% in civil associations, figures higher than those of non-believers. Kenya records the highest levels of participation (54% and 34%), while Argentina shows lower levels.
Political participation
Political participation is consistently higher among believers across all activities measured. The most significant differences emerge in participation in awareness campaigns, where people who believe in God show a level of regular engagement more than 10 percentage points higher than non-believers.
74% of believers state that they vote in elections, compared to 69% of non-believers. In addition, 47% say they express their opinions on social or political issues through social media or other digital spaces, compared to 39% of non-believers. Finally, 41% of believers participate in awareness campaigns or actions — such as marches, petitions, digital campaigns or environmental and social initiatives — compared to 29% of non-believers.
Higher education
87% of young people believe that education is useful for obtaining a well-paid job, with Kenya (96%) and Brazil (92%) showing the highest levels of confidence. Beyond technical skills, the main value attributed to university education is considered to be “access to better jobs”.
Preferred work sector
Most young people would prefer to work in either the private or public sector, although 1 in 10 say they are still undecided. 24% would choose the private sector (business or commerce), while 21% would prefer the public sector. These are followed by entrepreneurship (18%), independent professional or freelance work (11%), and the digital, technological or start-up economy (8%). Lower percentages relate to work in NGOs (4%), platform work or the collaborative economy (2%), and other options (1%).
Skills and the labour market
For professional success, young people attribute greater importance to soft skills than to technical skills. The priorities identified are teamwork (27%), communication (24%), digital skills (11%) and language proficiency (10%).
Family represents the main influence in shaping views about work (62%), followed by university (41%) and friends (33%).
Remote work and working conditions
71% of young people have experience with remote work or study. Among the main advantages, flexible schedules are highlighted (60%), while 40% point to issues related to social isolation. This percentage is higher in Kenya (51%) and the United Kingdom (50%). In addition, 39% of respondents report a deterioration in communication within remote teams.
Employment prospects and challenges
Six out of ten young people express optimism regarding their future employment prospects. However, confidence levels are higher among believers (47%) than among non-believers (27%). The main perceived difficulty in accessing employment is the lack of opportunities (56%), with the highest values recorded in Argentina and Kenya (67%).
Information and digital media
The report confirms the central role of social media as the main source of information for 59% of young people aged 18 to 29. However, television still maintains significant relevance in some national contexts, including Spain (25%) and Argentina (24%). In cases of emotional need or support, 37% of young people say they turn to the internet, surpassing institutional channels.
Work-life balance and rest
Although 90% of respondents consider rest essential for a balanced working life, more than 60% state that they feel constant pressure to remain productive even when exhausted.
The 2026 report of the research project Footprints: Young people’s values, hopes and expectations thus portrays a generation that, despite experiencing fragility and uncertainty, continues to reflect lucidly on its future. Work is no longer viewed solely as a source of income, but also as a space for meaning, relationships and personal fulfilment. At the same time, the need for sustainable environments, the value of psychological well-being and the search for balance between professional and personal life emerge strongly.
In this context, faith, where present, appears for many young people as a resource capable of guiding decisions and contributing to overall well-being, while social participation and the community dimension remain central elements in shaping identity and civic engagement.
Overall, the survey results indicate a profound transformation in the expectations of younger generations, who ask the world of work and institutions not only for opportunities, but also for recognition, listening and meaning.