Younger Workers Struggle to Find Jobs Amid Slowed Hiring

Younger Workers Struggle to Find Jobs Amid Slowed Hiring

Younger workers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure employment as hiring slows across many industries, according to a report released Thursday by the Conference Board.

The organization’s September survey revealed a “sharp generational divide” in perceptions of the U.S. job market. Although most age groups still see more opportunities than obstacles, younger respondents were far less optimistic.

Among Gen Z workers—those born between 1997 and 2012—just 26.4% said jobs were “plentiful,” compared with nearly as many who described them as “hard to get.” The gap between the two views was a narrow 2.1 percentage points.

Millennials (born 1981–1996) reported a similarly cautious outlook, with only about 26% viewing jobs as plentiful—a 3.5-point difference.

By contrast, baby boomers (born 1946–1964) were far more upbeat: roughly 29% said jobs were plentiful, outpacing “hard to get” responses by nearly 15 percentage points.

The report noted that generational differences in economic sentiment have widened since the start of the pandemic. While older Americans tend to view current economic conditions more favorably than younger workers, they are also more concerned about the future.

“Consistently since 2021 and 2022, older consumers have been more positive than younger ones about the present situation of the economy, but also significantly more worried about the future,” the report said.