Young adults' personalities are changing, with conscientiousness in freefall

Recent research points to a possible shift in the personalities of young adults, with conscientiousness—the trait linked to responsibility, organization, and goal-directed behavior—showing a troubling decline. Data from the Understanding America Study highlights this trend, suggesting a broader cultural change that could influence both the workplace and society at large.

Decline in Conscientiousness:
Since 2014, conscientiousness scores among 16- to 39-year-olds have dropped sharply, in some cases falling from the 50th percentile to below the 30th percentile, according to data cited in a LinkedIn post.

Other Personality Shifts:
The Financial Times reports that alongside this drop, levels of neuroticism—linked to anxiety and negative emotions—have risen, while agreeableness and extraversion have both declined.

Implications:
Such changes could pose challenges in professional settings, leading to difficulties in completing projects, increased workplace anxiety, and questions about the preparedness of younger workers.

Possible Drivers:
Although the causes remain uncertain, researchers suggest that greater dependence on technology—especially smartphones and streaming platforms—may play a role.

Context in History:
While worries about younger generations are not new, what stands out here is the speed and scale of these personality shifts compared to past critiques.