A significant portion of Gen Z has been a part of the American workforce for several years now, but as more graduate and begin fully immersing themselves into the job market, a dominant trend of pessimism and anxiety arises.
More than a few times I’ve heard my fellow students explain the competitive state of their field. I’ve had business, psychology, anthropology, classics, creative writing and computer science majors all tell me that they aren’t entirely confident they’ll be able to get a reasonable job in their area of study. It seems as if everyone, regardless of the field they’re in, is worried about one thing: “Am I going to be able to earn enough after graduating?”
Like many others in Gen Z and previous generations, I was consistently reminded by family and educators that a college degree was THE way to secure a good life for oneself. I had seen the success of my parents, who had both received bachelors, and not questioned the power that kind of education could provide. However, the college diploma is clearly not as valuable as its historic peak.
According to NBC News poll, since 2013 there has been a drastic shift in how much registered voters valued four-year college degrees. As of 2025, nearly two-thirds of all pollees believed that degrees were not worth their cost. It is true that those with college degrees earn more and see lower levels of unemployment, but the sky-high prices of university and the associated debt are perceived to outweigh that benefit.
This echos my experience speaking with friends and classmates. Often, students studying historically underpaid fields acknowledge that they will likely face issues, and have secondary plans for income. They understand that the value of a degree is dependent on what field it is in. Some have claimed that diplomas are status symbols; its prestige directly tied to its price tag.
In addition to the precedent of certain degree paths, new concerns with A.I. taking positions in fields like psychology and computer programming have emerged. They believe that their positions could be replaced by A.I. models, or that companies may even implement them prematurely, before they have been proven to be effective or safe.
Despite A.I. being more disruptive to artistic fields, STEM students face a separate yet growing anxiety. Dramatic cuts to National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have discouraged students and researchers. Many have voiced concern about the damage the current presidential cabinet has done to national research efforts.
Economic and political worries compound these issues into severe existential anxiety. Gen Z has been characterized as overly anxious, but I feel that much of what agonizes most people is rooted in legitimate concerns.
Many people my age want to be hopeful about their future, and want to reach their passions, but are reminded consistently about the reality of the situation. Gen Z is living off the final trails of an American dream that’s been deemed out of reach by many. There will be many success stories and passionate individuals who will find success in their passions, but there will be doubtless more who will struggle.
