New research shows that while nearly two thirds of young people think they’ll be worse off than their parents – almost double last year – most remain optimistic about the future.
The UK Youth Poll, conducted by the John Smith Centre in partnership with Nationwide, finds that young people (aged 18–29) are feeling thoroughly disappointed with how things are going for them in 2026. Politics, housing, job prospects and financial stability are among the issues causing them to feel down.
The poll found that financial worries (45%), job insecurity (33%) and housing instability (25%) were some of the primary concerns held by young people today. Just over one in four (26%) say they are concerned about the impact of AI on their future job prospects, though conversely, just over one in five (21%) rank the technology to help with learning.
However, the poll, now in its second year, also reveals young people are responding to adversity with determination, resilience and long-term ambition.
While belief amongst young people that they will be better off than their parents fell from 63 per cent in 2025, to just 36 per cent in 2026, almost two thirds (63%) still feel optimistic about their future.
Despite their concerns, young people want to be politically and socially engaged, and keen to change perceptions that their generation is seen as ‘lazy’ to one that is diverse in beliefs and backgrounds, and motivated.
Dame Debbie Crosbie, CEO of Nationwide Building Society, said: “More and more young people and students are choosing Nationwide for their banking. We want to understand what’s important to them, so we can help them thrive at every stage of life. The concerns raised by young people in this year’s poll show that we need to keep our focus on building financial resilience and tackling the challenge of housing affordability.”
Separate research from Nationwide looks deeper into the financial concerns of young people today. It shows that while most 18-29‑year‑olds feel broadly positive about their lives, this optimism does not extend to their finances, with more than half (51%) worried about their levels of income.
Fewer than three in ten (29%) young adults describe their finances as comfortable and concerns about saving, debt and income security are widespread. Housing affordability (54%) is also a concern, while only 58 per cent of those that would like to get onto the housing ladder in the foreseeable future, believe they will eventually be able to do so.
To combat this, many are taking proactive steps to improve their financial position. In the last three months alone, more than half (54%) have reduced their spending and more than four in ten (43%) have tried to increase their income. This includes 14 per cent applying for a new job, almost one in five (16%) taking on additional hours and 11 per cent exploring side hustles or entrepreneurial opportunities.
Nationwide is increasingly becoming the number one choice for students when it comes to their everyday banking needs. It doubled its student account openings last year, capturing over 40 per cent of the market in the UK.
As the UK’s second largest mortgage provider, who’s founding purpose was to help people into a home of their own, Nationwide introduced its Helping Hand mortgage in April 2021 to tackle affordability barriers. It has also recently expanded support with six-times income lending to continue to prioritise first-time buyers and help people onto the housing ladder.
In 2025, there was a 57% increase in first-time buyers using Nationwide’s Helping Hand mortgage, with around 22,000 first-time buyers using it to get their first property last year.
