Cronyism | Two-thirds of Gen Z are 'nepo workers', but feel guilty about it

A new report, which surveyed 2000 adults, found the UK is rife with nepotism, 42% of workers having gained jobs after being referred by someone they know.

Amongst those respondents, Gen Z and men were the most likely to leverage personal connections to boost their careers. Almost half of men (48%) said they had gained a job through someone they know, compared to 36% of women.

Generationally, more than two thirds (68%) of Gen Z workers (18-24 years) and 60% of Millennials (25-34 years) said they had gained a job or job offer through a personal connection, compared to 25% of those over the age of 55.

The findings suggest that nepotism plays a significant role in helping young people with no experience get themselves on the employment ladder, but also highlights the disadvantage of those workers who lack a strong personal network.