During the James O'Brien show, a popular radio station that discusses current affairs and takes phone-ins from listeners, O’Brien received a call from Dan, a plumber from Reigate in Surrey.

Dan, who owns his own company, phoned in to speak about his struggles to find reliable employees among Gen Z workers.

Dan explained that while his company has a handful of “very good and hard-working” employees, “they are an exception to the rule.”

“The applications we get from the younger generation, it is never themselves applying, it is always their parents,” he said.

“They are not out looking to do a job. They don't want to be a plumber or an apprentice.”

“They are not prepared to do what they need to do to get qualified.”

“When we do meet these kids, they don't want to be there; they are just being told to be there.”

“They don't want to go to work... The parents have to look after them.”

O’Brien agreed with Dan’s sentiment that there was a general lack of work ethic amongst the younger generations, and believes this is “indicative of a broader social trend.”

Gen Z, individuals born between 1997 and 2012, represents 32% of the world’s population, and will account for 27% of the workforce by next year, according to McKinsey.

In April, a survey out of the US by ResumeTemplates.com revealed that nearly 27% of Gen Zers say that a parent accompanied them to an in-person interview. Nearly 30% report that the parent went into the interview with them, and two times out of ten, the parent introduced themselves to the hiring manager.