Young Americans are experiencing severe pessimism about the job market, with only 20% telling Gallup in Q4 last year that it's a good time to find a quality job. This represents a dramatic drop from 62% at the pollster's peak for the measure in October 2021. Such a sharp mood swing is rarely seen in economic data.
The decline matters because a bachelor's degree has historically been the most reliable path to a stable career for 70 years. That assumption is now being challenged even before artificial intelligence begins significantly impacting entry-level work. The current anxiety reflects more than just general negativity among younger generations.