People no longer want to network, and it’s harming them and their careers

The art of networking is fading from the modern workplace, with a new poll from Nova suggesting that nearly two thirds (60 percent) of young professionals actively avoid in-person networking events, while around a third (29 percent) say they feel socially anxious when faced with real-life small talk. The report sets out the biggest challenges holding young people back from making real life connections to build relationships and a network. One in four (26 percent) dread awkward silences more than anything and one in five (19 percent) secretly hate small talk and wish they could skip it altogether – despite it being one of the simplest ways to build rapport and make professional connections.

That loss of connection extends beyond the events themselves, having a longer-term detrimental impact. Just under half (40 percent) of Gen Z have only one or two people they can turn to for career advice, and one in seven (15 percent) admit they have no professional network at all – a worrying sign for a generation entering the workforce without the relationships that often open doors.

The role of AI in this growing ‘networking deficit’ can’t be ignored, argues the report. It suggest that, for many young professionals, the idea of walking into a room full of strangers without a screen to hide behind has never felt more daunting. Two in five (40 percent) now rely on AI when they don’t know what to say, while over a quarter (28 percent) admit they feel lost if they don’t run things past AI first. For Gen Z, AI has become a kind of conversational crutch – offering reassurance and polish, but also quietly reducing their confidence to communicate in professional environments without the ability to turn to AI mid-conversation to draft the perfect response. It may make it easier to find the right words, but AI is also changing how a whole generation connects.

Andrea Marino, Co-Founder and CEO at Nova, said: “Networking has always been one of the most powerful tools for career growth,  it’s how ideas are shared, opportunities are created, and doors are opened. This research doesn’t suggest a lack of talent, but rather a loss of confidence in how to connect face-to-face. Gen Z are some of the most capable and driven professionals entering the workforce, they just need the right spaces to build meaningful, real-world relationships.”