A stressed woman looks at her bills.
With more than two-thirds of workers stressed about their financial situation, employers have an opportunity to provide benefits tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities they face in life.
“Today's workforce spans multiple generations, each with its own set of financial goals,” said Kaley Keeley Buchanan, senior vice president and head of PNC Organizational Financial Wellness. “To attract and retain top talent, employers must offer individualized benefits to employees that resonate across age groups and life stages.”
The company’s annual Financial Wellness in the Workplace Report found that 68% of employees are “somewhat” or “very” stressed about their finances, down slightly from a year ago. Nearly 7 in 10 employers surveyed believed their workers are facing financial stress, which was down significantly from the 78% reported in 2024.
Among the other notable findings:
- Boomers are feeling better year-over-year. Nearly half of baby boomers said they were better off financially this year compared to last year. Across other generations, 38% of Gen X survey respondents, 31% of millennials and 18% of Gen Z reported feeling better about their financial situation in 2025 compared to 2024.
- Most U.S. workers are comfortable managing debt. Nearly three-quarters of workers said they are at least “somewhat” confident in managing debt. Gen Z and Gen X reported being less concerned about student loans compared to last year, and boomers were less concerned about auto and finance loans in 2025 compared to 2024. Millennials’ debt concerns are about the same as last year across all types of loans.
- Confidence levels for meeting retirement goals vary across generations. Gen Z is the most confident, with 56% reporting they are “somewhat” or “very confident” they will meet their retirement goals. Millennials and boomers (both 50%) were equally confident, while Gen X members (43%) were the least confident in their ability to meet retirement goals.
- Employers generally believe their workers are prepared for retirement. More than three-quarters of U.S. employers believed their workers are prepared for retirement. However, only 45% of workers said they are prepared.
- Workers are more likely to stay with an employer that offers more financial wellness benefits. A significant majority (81%) of workers surveyed said they are more likely to stay with an employer that offers financial wellness benefits, which is up from 78% in 2024. Additionally, 96% of employers believed they have at least some responsibility to offer financial wellness benefits, up from 94% last year.
“With today’s workforce indicating they are more likely to stay with an employer that offers financial wellness benefits, businesses must adapt their approach to stay competitive and retain top talent,” the report said.
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