Only 23% of 18- to 24-year-olds feel comfortable with basic home maintenance jobs such as unblocking a sink, putting up shelves, or replacing a fuse, according to a survey of 2,000 adults. The research found that four in 10 Gen Zers would not feel confident hanging a mirror, while 74% are reluctant to assemble flat-pack furniture.
Confidence gap between DIY and tech
More than a quarter (27%) say they were never taught practical DIY skills. Meanwhile, 30% steer clear of home repairs entirely for fear of making a mess of things and facing a costly bill to rectify it.
In contrast, 41% of young adults feel confident setting up a home Wi-Fi network without help, 36% can create a website, and 35% are able to troubleshoot internet connectivity problems. Additionally, 80% of 18- to 25-year-olds have used AI tools over the past year to create, write, or develop projects—including websites and side hustles.
Digital shift and AI adoption
The research was commissioned by Tiiny Host, a drag-and-drop platform designed to 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." He added: "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."
Generational differences in skills
The research revealed that Gen Zers were more likely to have created something using AI in the past year than to have put up a shelf (34% vs. 26%). A quarter (25%) of this age group acquired their tech skills directly from tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot.
Yet it is not solely younger generations driving the digital shift: 45% of all adults have used AI for a specific task within the same period. Furthermore, nearly a quarter (23%) have monetised their digital abilities, according to OnePoll.com data.
Overall, 72% of respondents feel confident in their technical capabilities, compared to 60% who feel confident in traditional home maintenance. Millennials are the generation most likely to favour tech tasks over household DIY (41% vs. 18%).
Tiiny Host's Elston Baretto added: "This isn't about replacing traditional DIY or saying one set of skills matters more than another, it's about recognising that what it means to 'do it yourself' has expanded. A new generation is using a different toolbox - AI, digital platforms and technology - but the instinct behind it is exactly the same: I have an idea, I can learn how to do this, and I can make it happen myself."
