Nearly half of frontline workers say their income doesn't cover their daily expenses, and millennials are struggling more with expenses than Gen Z or Gen X.

Those and other disturbing finds are part of an inaugural report from financial services company Clair that detailed the financial habits of working millennials (currently between the ages of 27 and 42) and members of Gen Z (those under age 26). A smaller percentage of data pertaining to Gen Xers (those currently between the ages of 43 and 58) also was included. Data was based on analyzed anonymized information from Clair customers plus results from a proprietary survey of frontline workers — typically considered to be employees who interact with customers or manufacture products — across the United States.

Many frontline workers (45%) said they are living paycheck to paycheck, with an average of less than $100 in their checking and savings accounts combined. Per Clair's survey, nearly a quarter (23%) of American frontline workers feel negatively about their current income. This problem has gotten worse in recent years, according to researchers, with spending per person increasing by 24% year-over-year — likely due to inflation and the fact that pre-pandemic spending on recreational activities like travel and dining out have increased.