Furious young Americans declare Trump job market a ‘scam’

The New York Times reports that young Americans delivered anger and frustration when asked about today’s job market reports.“I graduated college almost two years ago at this point, and things felt really different compared to now,” one participant in the NYTimes survey admitted“Rough,” is how 25-year-old Maine graduate student “Percy,” described the market.“A scam,” said Georgia health care worker, “Tope,” who is 28.“Dry,” said Michelah, a customer service employee in New Jersey, 27. For its focus group, Times Opinion spoke with 12 white-collar Gen Z job seekers not only about the job market, but also A.I., and what the ideal work environment actually looks like —as well as their opinion on the rise of “hustle culture” jobs, with their absence of retirement, insurance or benefits.“Young people today are heading into one of the most challenging job markets for their cohort in recent memory. Open positions feel few and far between, the cost of living remains high, and the idea of A.I.-fueled job losses looms large,” reports the Times.What stands out in particular in conversations is the intra-Gen Z tension about how important work and money should be, and how employment — particularly underemployment and unemployment — has impacted their lives and adult development.“Unfair,” is how New York tax associate “Orrel,” 28, described the job market, dropping a word that is sure to resonate for years as this generation sees the benefits and comfort enjoyed by their parents and grow bitter.“I said ‘rough’ because the job search is a constant thing of applying to job after job after job — and then not even hearing back,” added Percy. “Or you hear back, but then it’s already filled. I’ve applied to between 30 and 50 jobs in one cycle.”Others unloaded about the collapse of entry level jobs, which are essential to launching most any career. But these days many of these so-called “entry level jobs” demand “five-plus years” of experience.“I just feel like I will never have enough experience to match up against other candidates,” said “Jennifer, a 26-year-old Illinois resident. “I have years of experience in medical and health reception, and I’ve had people tell me that I didn’t have enough experience or that someone else was more qualified. And I’m just seeing the same pattern repeat itself over and over. An entry-level job is never really an entry-level job anymore.”“I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I can’t even get the most basic jobs in my industry, assistant stuff,” ranted “Ethan,” 22, of California.Still others, like “Tope,” demanded “what happened to being able to have one job, to afford to be able to live off of that — versus having to work three jobs, having to own a business and do smaller things to just get by?”The Times reports this particular generation of voters will be taking their frustration to the polls and shaping the future of work for decades to come.

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