My take is that gen Z grew up around much more anti–capitalist, anti–work rhetoric, and had more realistic expectations about how well life within the system was going to go for them. Millennials really thought that if they studied hard, worked hard, remained loyal to their employer and kept climbing that ladder, they would live comfortably and happily ever after. Gen Z didn't have to break that programming. To them, it was much more obvious that the system was rigged against them, and they were better off focussing on whatever works for them right now. They're just as financially screwed, of course, but possibly have a better attitude about it.

I’ll second the comment already made. Gen-X could still mostly follow the traditional path despite the beatings they took that screwed things up. They had a chance to become somewhat established. Z, otoh, was told they could do the same thing but started taking hits right away in an already declining economy. Anyone remember the memes of MBAs or Bachelor’s degrees working the Starbucks counters? Yeah, it was real. They thought they’d be ok but got fucked. Everyone after was far more cynical and already knew things were fucked up.