A poll of 2,000 adults found only 23% of 18 to 24-year-olds feel comfortable doing basic DIY tasks such as unblocking a sink, putting up a set of shelves or changing a fuse
Four in 10 Gen Z aren’t confident hanging a mirror and around three-quarters are unsure about assembling flat-pack furniture. A poll of 2,000 adults found only 23% of 18 to 24-year-olds feel comfortable doing basic DIY tasks such as unblocking a sink, putting up a set of shelves or changing a fuse.
More than a quarter claimed they’ve never been taught practical DIY skills, while 30% avoid tackling jobs themselves for fear of getting it wrong and facing an expensive bill to put it right.
However, 41% of youngsters would be confident setting up a home WiFi network without any help, as well as building a website and troubleshooting internet connection issues.
It also emerged 80% of 18 to 25-year-olds have used AI tools to create, write or build something within the past year – including websites and side hustles.
The research was commissioned by Tiiny Host, a simple drag-and-drop platform designed to quickly launch and share static websites, PDFs and files online.
Elston Baretto, founder of the platform, said: “DIY hasn’t disappeared – it’s evolving – and for previous generations, making something yourself might have meant picking up a drill or opening a toolbox.
“Today, that same instinct to create, learn and figure things out for yourself is increasingly happening online. What’s exciting is that technology and AI are giving more people the confidence to turn an idea into something real – whether that’s a website, a creative project, a side hustle or even the beginnings of a business.
“You no longer need years of technical experience or a team of experts to get started. People are teaching themselves, experimenting and building independently in a way that simply wasn’t possible before.”
The study also revealed Gen Z are more likely to have created something using AI in the past year than put up a shelf. With 25% of this age range having learned their technology skills directly from tools, such as ChatGPT and Copilot, themselves.
But it’s not just the younger generation leading the digital way, as 45% of all adults have used artificial intelligence for a specific purpose within the same timeframe. While almost a quarter have used their digital skills to make money, according to the OnePoll.com data.