Research from Attest indicates that nearly 6 million people in Britain identify with more than one social class at the same time. The survey also found that 39% of Britons see themselves as belonging to a different class from the one they were born into.

The polling points to a more fluid view of class identity, particularly among younger adults, while suggesting that class remains a strong social and political force. Half of respondents said they had experienced judgement based on class, most often linked to where they come from, their accent or what they wear.

Class fluidity

Attest surveyed 2,000 UK adults and found that 14% identify with more than one class, a group it labels the “Polyclass”. Among those born into Upper Middle or Upper Class households, 19% said they now identify as more than one class, followed by 18% of those born Lower Middle Class.

By contrast, respondents who identify as Working Class were more likely to report continuity, with seven in 10 saying they remain in the same class they grew up in.

The study also found a generational divide. Millennials were the most likely to describe themselves as having moved up from the class they were born into or as identifying with more than one class, at 40%.

The figures were sharper still among younger adults, with 77% identifying with a different class from the one they were born into or with multiple classes.

That shift appears to bring some strain for part of Generation Z. Among Gen Z respondents who identify between or across classes, 24% said they feel they do not really belong anywhere, while one in four said they often or always feel like an imposter in their current work or social setting because of their class identity.

Social markers

Despite evidence of movement across class lines, the research suggests class remains embedded in everyday judgements. Nearly one in two respondents said they had been judged for their class at some point.

The main triggers were where someone comes from, cited by 39%, followed by accent and clothing, each on 35%. Respondents ranked class above age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation in terms of how they believe others see them.

The findings also point to changing ways younger groups define class. Among millennials, 42% said their job is why they feel part of a particular class. Among Gen Z, 17% said class is defined by their ambition and dreams for the future.

Some younger respondents also reported altering their behaviour to match a perceived class position. Among Gen Z, 37% said they adjust how they behave, 33% said they change how they dress, 14% said they have changed their accent and 14% said they have changed their friendship group.

Abrams, a professor at the University of Kent, said the findings reflect a shift in how class is understood.

“The emergence of ‘Polyclass’ identity reflects a meaningful shift in how class is understood in Britain, as the factors that define personal identity become increasingly nuanced and complex. Traditionally, class here has never been defined by income alone. It has also been shaped by factors like upbringing, accent, education and cultural capital. This is why those who achieved financial success from working-class backgrounds were often still viewed as ‘new money’, a label that carried its own social boundaries.

“What’s striking in these findings is, in part, a move away from that model. Increasingly, people feel able to redefine their status through economic mobility, in a way that more closely mirrors the American idea of class as something you can move between. However, the persistence of Polyclass identity shows that cultural roots still matter and that the perceptions and responses of others still restrict the way we view ourselves. Many individuals are therefore not leaving one class behind entirely, but instead carrying multiple class identities at once, reflecting both where they come from and where they are now.”

Political signal

The data also suggests this group may not fit older assumptions about voting behaviour. People identifying across classes show greater support for Labour and the Greens, and place more weight on perceived national interest than on traditional class alignment.

That may matter beyond Westminster, particularly as councils and regional authorities take a larger role in issues such as housing, transport, public services and local economic growth. If class identity is becoming less fixed, long-standing models of how communities vote may also be under pressure.

Todd Latham, chief executive of Attest, said the results show a gap between standard class categories and how many people describe themselves.

“For too long, marketers have segmented audiences using a class model that simply no longer reflects how people see themselves. Our research shows that around 6 million Brits are Polyclass – they don’t fit neatly into the ABC1 boxes, and they know it. If you’re still building campaigns around traditional class assumptions, you’re speaking to a Britain that no longer exists. The rise of the Polyclass reinforces the importance of understanding consumers on a deeper level to build meaningful, long-term connections.”