Millennials and Gen Z Still Believe Retirement Is Reachable
A new survey finds Millennials and Gen Z still believe retirement is achievable despite economic pressures. Here's what the data says for younger workers.
In brief
Despite years of economic turbulence, Millennials and Gen Z still believe retirement is within reach, according to a recent survey reported by KVIA. Younger workers have faced compounding financial pressures — from student debt to rising housing costs — yet their confidence in eventually retiring has not disappeared. The finding challenges the popular narrative that younger generations have fully abandoned retirement as a realistic goal.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A new survey finds Millennials and Gen Z still view retirement as an achievable life milestone.
Younger generations maintain retirement optimism even amid persistent economic pressures.
The survey results push back against the widely held assumption that younger workers have given up on long-term financial planning.
Why Retirement Optimism Among Younger Workers Matters
For younger workers navigating the modern economy, retirement can feel abstract — a distant milestone obscured by immediate financial demands. Student loan balances, rent in cities like Washington DC, and stagnant entry-level wages have all been cited in recent years as barriers to long-term saving. Yet the survey data, as reported by KVIA, suggests that Millennials and Gen Z have not written off retirement entirely.
That optimism carries real weight. Confidence in retirement achievability can directly influence saving behavior — workers who believe retirement is possible are more likely to contribute to accounts like a 401(k) or Roth IRA in the first place. Behavioral economists have long noted that perceived feasibility is one of the strongest predictors of whether someone starts saving at all.
For DC-area workers especially — many employed by federal agencies, contractors, nonprofits, and startups across Capitol Hill, NoMa, and the Shaw corridor — retirement planning options vary widely depending on employer type. Federal employees benefit from the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), one of the more robust public retirement structures in the country. Private-sector and gig workers in the District face a different calculus entirely.
Washington DC has one of the highest concentrations of Millennial and Gen Z workers of any major American city, drawn by government jobs, advocacy organizations, media outlets, and a growing tech sector. The question of retirement readiness hits differently here — where a starting salary at a Hill office or a Dupont Circle nonprofit may not keep pace with the cost of living, yet where long-term public-sector careers once offered defined-benefit pensions as a reliable safety net.
That safety net has eroded for many. Younger federal hires under FERS receive a smaller defined benefit than their predecessors under the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), making the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and personal savings more critical than ever. For workers outside government — in U Street restaurants, Bethesda biotech firms, or Georgetown boutiques — employer-sponsored retirement plans are not guaranteed at all.
Still, the survey reported by KVIA points toward a generational resilience that policy advocates and financial planners should not overlook. Younger workers appear to be holding onto retirement as a goal, even when the path there feels uncertain. That belief, however fragile, is the foundation on which retirement savings behavior is built. For more on how economic forces shape DC's workforce, see WDCM's DC Power Players Index.
Why This Matters in Washington
Retirement policy is Washington policy. Congress sets the rules governing 401(k) contribution limits, Social Security solvency, and federal employee benefits — decisions made on Capitol Hill that ripple into the retirement accounts of every American. With the Social Security Administration projecting long-term funding pressures, and ongoing legislative debates about retirement security for gig and part-time workers, the attitudes of Millennials and Gen Z toward retirement are not just personal finance data points — they're political signals. A generation that still believes retirement is achievable is a generation that will eventually demand lawmakers protect that possibility. Track the broader policy landscape at WDCM's DC Politics Guide.
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FAQ: Millennials, Gen Z, and Retirement
Do Millennials and Gen Z think they can retire? According to a survey reported by KVIA, yes — both Millennials and Gen Z still view retirement as an achievable goal, despite the economic challenges their generations face.
Why is retirement confidence significant for younger generations? Believing retirement is achievable influences whether younger workers actually start saving. Optimism about long-term goals is a documented driver of financial planning behavior.
How does retirement planning differ for DC federal workers versus private-sector employees? Federal employees hired under FERS have access to a defined benefit pension plus the Thrift Savings Plan. Private-sector and nonprofit workers in DC have no guaranteed employer-sponsored retirement plan and must rely more heavily on individual savings vehicles like IRAs and 401(k)s.
What retirement savings options are available to younger workers? Common options include employer-sponsored 401(k) plans, Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, and for federal workers, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Contribution limits and tax treatment vary by account type.
Is Social Security expected to be available for Millennials and Gen Z? The Social Security Administration has projected long-term funding pressures, though the program's future structure remains subject to ongoing Congressional debate. Current projections do not eliminate benefits but suggest potential adjustments without legislative action.
The bottom line: A new survey finds that Millennials and Gen Z haven't given up on retirement — a meaningful signal in an era defined by financial anxiety. For DC's large population of younger workers, spread across federal agencies, nonprofits, startups, and service industries, that optimism is the starting point for every retirement savings decision they'll make. Policymakers and employers would be wise to meet that belief with structures that make it real. Source: KVIA.
What to watch next: As Congress continues debating Social Security reform and retirement savings legislation, how Millennials and Gen Z translate optimism into actual savings behavior will be a defining economic story of the next decade. WDCM will continue tracking DC's economic mobility landscape — follow our Power Moves coverage for updates.
Reporting drawn from: KVIA. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
