As part of its Impacts thought leadership programme, Savills World Research conducted a global survey assessing different generations’ housing, workplace and lifestyle preferences. Generation Z deviated from the broader tendency for younger respondents to prefer fewer days in the office. Although respondents across all generations currently report attending the office for approximately four days a week, Generation Z would prefer 3.4 days, more than Millennials (3.2 days for Younger Millennials and 3.3 days for Elder Millennials), and closer to the preferences reported by Generation X (3.5) and Baby Boomers (3.5). However, Savills says that although Generation Z reports being in the office more frequently than older groups, the cohort still places significant value on work-life balance, with all Generation Z respondents saying this is ‘moderately’ or ‘extremely’ important.

Within the office, high-quality Wi-Fi is the most essential amenity across all age groups, while public transport connections are more important to younger respondents, with access to meeting rooms ranking higher with age. These preferences suggest that younger employees value offices that are both well connected and designed to facilitate open interaction, and view the office as a place for learning, development and social connection.

Generation Z respondents report having the longest commutes, with 46% travelling for 41 minutes or more. Savills says this is likely due to more affordable housing largely being located outside city centres, therefore driving their desire to work in offices with good public transport connections.

In terms of nearby facilities, restaurants are the highest-rated local amenity across every age group, but gyms and wellness centres appeal more strongly to younger respondents. When asked to expand, Generation Z respondents expressed a preference for gyms and Pilates studios above other wellness facilities such as health food stores and padel/tennis courts.  

Rick Schuham, CEO of Global Occupier Services at Savills, comments: “For workplaces, the survey indicates that Generation Z values the office as a place for social interaction, collaboration and early-career development, which isn’t surprising as many of their formative years were spent during pandemic lockdowns. The younger generation’s preference for more frequent attendance than Millennials doesn’t diminish the importance of work-life balance. Given many are living in shared accommodation and feeling the cost of living, there is an argument that the right office environment can help to enhance quality of life. Employers should therefore prioritise reliable technology, accessible locations and spaces that support collaboration, alongside a workplace culture that gives employees meaningful reasons to attend.  

Kelcie Sellers, Associate Director in Savills World Research team, adds: “As Generation Z becomes a larger part of the workforce – with its oldest members of the generation turning 29 in 2026 - we see real estate markets increasingly looking to adapt to their preferences. As attitudes and preferences evolve across generations, developers, employers and governments must understand where meaningful differences exist and how these may affect demand. For each generation, changing expectations create both challenges and opportunities for real estate."

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Methodology

Savills World Research ran the Impacts Generational Preferences Survey from 4 to 18 September 2026, collecting 645 responses globally.

The findings reflect the composition of the survey sample and should be interpreted as indicative of differences among respondents rather than as representative of every member of each generation or region.

For the purposes of this survey, the generational cohorts are defined as follows:

• Baby Boomers: Born 1946–1964
• Generation X: Born 1965–1980
• Elder Millennials: Born 1981–1988
• Younger Millennials: Born 1989–1996
• Generation Z: Born 1997–2012