One in three UK Gen Z employees socialise more since returning to the office, new Careerminds research finds

UNITED KINGDOM, July 2026 This week marks International Youth Employment Week, a moment used to spotlight the issues shaping young people’s lives. According to the World Health Organisation’s Commission on Social Connection, one in six young adults globally reports loneliness, with significant impacts on health and well-being. 

With that in mind, new research from Careerminds UK asked 600 UK employees how their working lives have changed since the return to the office, with a sharper focus on how Gen Z socialise, switches off, and shows up at work. 

Key findings: 

• Nearly 1 in 3 UK Gen Z employees (31.7%) socialise more with colleagues since returning to the office, nearly 2x the millennial rate (17.7%). 

• More than 2 in 5 Gen Z (43.9%) socialise regularly with colleagues after work, against 28.6% of millennials and 20.3% of Gen X. 

• Only 1.2% of Gen Z still work fully remotely, against 7.3% of millennials and 7.2% of Gen X. 

• Just 9.8% of Gen Z feel anxious about networking professionally through socializing, lower than millennials (11.3%) and Gen X (12.7%). 

According to Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and resident careers expert for Careerminds UK: 

“The narrative around Gen Z is often that they’re the loneliest generation and the least interested in workplace interaction. Yet our findings paint a more balanced picture. Many Gen Z employees are returning to the office, building relationships with colleagues, and making time to socialise after work. That suggests younger workers still value in-person connection, particularly during the early stages of their careers. 

“What’s changing isn’t the desire to connect, but how those connections happen. Socialising today often looks different than it did a generation ago, with smaller gatherings, different venues, and less emphasis on alcohol. Employers shouldn’t assume that traditional workplace socials will resonate with every employee. Creating a variety of opportunities for people to connect, collaborate, and build relationships is far more likely to foster the sense of belonging that helps people stay engaged at work.” 

Full research findings can be read down below: 

• Gen Z are the generation leading the office socialisation revival: Nearly one in three UK Gen Z employees (31.7%) say they go out with colleagues more often since the return to the office, almost 2x the millennial rate (17.7%) and well ahead of Gen X (13.6%) and Boomers (8.8%). When combined with those who were always in the office and go regularly, more than two in five Gen Z (43.9%) hang out with colleagues after work, against 28.6% of millennials and 20.3% of Gen X. The pattern flips the assumption that younger employees are the most disengaged from in-person work. 

• Gen Z are also the generation most physically back in the office: Only 1.2% of Gen Z say they still work fully remotely, compared with 7.3% of millennials, 7.2% of Gen X and 14.7% of Boomers. While older generations have settled into hybrid or remote routines, Gen Z have re-entered office life more completely than any other cohort. 

• Networking anxiety is lowest among Gen Z: Just 9.8% of Gen Z employees say they feel anxious about networking or introducing themselves professionally, below millennials (11.3%), Gen X (12.7%) and broadly in line with Boomers (8.8%). For Gen Z, professional social settings are a route to building visibility and relationships rather than something to be avoided. 

• Drinking habits have changed, not the desire to socialise: With the average UK pint now £5.34, and alcohol duty rising again in February 2026, the cost of a traditional pub night is climbing, and UK pubs are closing at a rate of two a day. Yet the appetite for connection hasn’t dropped, as more than 43.9% of Gen Z still enjoy socializing with their peers after hours. 

Careerminds is a global workforce solutions provider delivering career transition, workforce design and talent development to organisations worldwide. Our consumer career brands extend that reach, giving individuals AI-powered career tools and coaching at every stage of the career journey. Together, we combine technology, data and human expertise to create a connected ecosystem that supports both workforce transformation and individual career success. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. 

Amanda Augustine is the resident careers expert for Careerminds, career.io, and its suite of brands: resume.io, TopResume, TopCV, TopInterview, Resume.ai, and others. As a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), she has spent more than 20 years helping professionals improve their careers and land the right job sooner. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Careerminds UK surveyed 600 UK adults in full-time employment via Pollfish in May 2026, capturing responses on workplace anxiety, return-to-office socialising and everyday work behaviours. Results were segmented by gender, age, seniority and salary, and stratified to reflect the UK working population.