Gen X – those born between 1965 and 1980 – is doing much of the heavy lifting in Australian society – raising families, caring for ageing parents and keeping the economy moving.
However, more than half say they feel invisible in national debate, and only 3 per cent say they are thriving.
New national research from Citro, released today, reveals a generation caught in the middle: emotionally stretched, quietly coping and largely missing from public conversation, despite being in their peak working and caring years.
The survey of more than 1000 Gen X Australians found:
- 51% feel mostly or completely invisible in Australian media, politics and public discussion
- 90% describe themselves as exhausted, uncertain, stretched or coping
- Just 3% say they are thriving
- 66% say caring responsibilities leave them emotionally or mentally stretched
Citro managing director Toby Ellis said the findings pointed to a major blind spot in how Australia thinks about wellbeing and ageing.
“Generation X is holding a lot together in Australia right now – families, workplaces and communities – but they’re doing it quietly and often at personal cost,” Ellis said.
“This research shows a generation that is resilient and capable, but tired, under-recognised and coping rather than thriving. The risk is that we only notice the strain when something breaks.”
Unlike younger generations, who dominate conversations about housing and cost-of-living pressures, or older Australians, who are the focus of retirement policy, Gen X often falls between the cracks, the research shows.
Many respondents reported juggling care for children, adult children and ageing parents at the same time, while navigating midlife health changes, work pressure and growing uncertainty about the future.
“We have built strong systems in Australia to talk about money and retirement,” Ellis said.
“But this research highlights the other side of the equation – social connection, identity and emotional wellbeing – and how fragile those supports can become in midlife if they’re ignored.”
AMP’s Chief Economist Dr. Shane Oliver said Generation X has been absorbing the economic shock of recent years while continuing to carry much of the load across households, workplaces and communities.
“One of the most important factors shaping Gen X outcomes is that real wages remain materially lower than they were five years ago, despite recent nominal wage growth. The surge in inflation following the pandemic significantly eroded purchasing power, and it will take many years for that lost ground to be fully recovered.
“For Generation X, this matters more than for most cohorts. These are peak expense years – when mortgages are largest, children are still financially dependent, and caring responsibilities extend simultaneously to ageing parents and family members. The result has been sustained financial compression, not temporary adjustment.”
According to Ellis, Citro’s findings suggest how Australians feel in midlife will shape how confidently they enter later life – not just financially, but socially and emotionally.
The report calls for greater recognition of midlife as a distinct life stage, stronger support for carers, and more focus on community connection and belonging – alongside financial preparation – to support long-term wellbeing.
“The foundations for later life aren’t built at retirement,” Ellis said.
“They’re built much earlier, through feeling seen, connected, valued and supported. If Gen X enters the next chapter already depleted, the consequences won’t just be personal – they’ll be societal.”
About the report
Citro commissioned a comprehensive study in March of over 1,000 Gen X Australians (born 1965–1980) across all states and territories. The survey was conducted by independent research group Dynata and captured the lived experience of a generation navigating mid-life under mounting financial, caring, workplace, and health pressures — largely without a public voice.
