Trending Now - Navigating Unemployment: Insights From Workers' Experiences

WHO:

Fast Company - Karlee Rea, a 26-year-old employee at LTK; Mar Rosa, a public relations professional from New York City; Sabel Harris, a 36-year-old marketing professional from Washington, D.C.

Fast Company - LTK, a creator e-commerce platform.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Karlee Rea was laid off from LTK in February 2026, as part of staff cuts that impacted a “low, single-digit percentage” of the company's overall head count.

Fast Company - Rea's TikTok video about her layoff has over 18,000 views and numerous comments from others who relate to her experience.

Fast Company - The unemployment rate for Gen Z in February 2026 was 8.3%, which is double the national average.

Fast Company - There are over 400,000 TikTok posts with the hashtag #unemployed and around 800 posts with the hashtag #unemploymentdiaries.

Fast Company - Mar Rosa was laid off from a midsize agency in December 2025.

Fast Company - Sabel Harris was laid off from an ed-tech company in February 2026 after previously being affected by layoffs at a fintech company in 2025.

Fast Company - Harris has over 10,000 followers on TikTok.

WHERE:

Fast Company - LTK is based in Dallas, Texas.

Fast Company - Mar Rosa is from New York City.

Fast Company - Sabel Harris is from Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Karlee Rea was laid off in February 2026.

Fast Company - Mar Rosa was laid off in December 2025.

Fast Company - Sabel Harris was laid off in February 2026.

WHY:

Fast Company - The layoffs at LTK were part of a broader trend affecting young professionals, with entry-level jobs disappearing and many relying on parental support.

HOW:

Fast Company - Karlee Rea started posting daily videos as part of an “unemployment diaries” series to document her experiences after being laid off.

Fast Company - Mar Rosa uses TikTok to share her daily life and job search experiences, which has helped her feel less isolated and more productive.

Fast Company - Sabel Harris shares her experiences on TikTok and has taken on side hustles, such as selling clothes on Poshmark, to meet her rent.

(UPDATED April 20, 2026 13:21 UTC)

Karlee Rea, a 26-year-old from LTK, and Sabel Harris, a 36-year-old marketing professional from Washington, D.C., were both laid off in February 20th26, while Mar Rosa, a public relations expert from New York City, faced layoffs in December 20th25. Rea's TikTok video about her layoff has gained over 18,000 views, reflecting a broader trend of rising unemployment among Gen Z, which hit 8.3% in February, double the national average. All three women are using social media to document their experiences and navigate their job searches, with Harris even taking on side hustles to make ends meet.