Gen Z Struggles With Job Market Amid Economic Challenges

WHO:

Alternet - Gen Z, President Trump, Rachel Janfaza, Joshua Byers, a 20-year-old student from Pennsylvania, an 18-year-old in Arizona, a 19-year-old student in Miami, Florida.

WHAT:

Alternet - The job market for Gen Z is described as bleak, particularly for recent high school and college graduates seeking entry-level work and summer jobs.

Alternet - Summer hiring for teens is expected to fall from 801,000 jobs gained last summer to 790,000 this summer.

Alternet - This summer's hiring total for teens is projected to be the worst since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking in 1948.

Alternet - A 20-year-old student stated, “I do not have a job this summer.”

Alternet - A 19-year-old student in Miami expressed concerns about gas and food prices.

Alternet - A 20-year-old from Pennsylvania mentioned the political issue of job availability and affordability of living expenses.

WHERE:

Alternet - Pennsylvania, Arizona, Miami, Florida.

WHY:

Alternet - The job market is becoming a political issue for potential young voters, with concerns about inflation and the job market being linked to President Trump's administration.

HOW:

Alternet - Young adults are increasingly looking for work in the gig economy, utilizing apps like Uber to find shifts.

(UPDATED June 24, 2026 01:38 UTC)

The job market for Gen Z is facing significant challenges, particularly for recent high school and college graduates looking for entry-level positions and summer jobs. This summer, hiring for teens is projected to drop to 790,000, marking the worst total since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking in 1948, and many young adults are voicing their frustrations about job availability and rising living costs. With concerns about inflation and employment becoming a political issue linked to Trump’s administration, young people are increasingly turning to gig economy jobs, using apps like Uber to secure shifts.