Young Americans' job market optimism plummets in new Gallup poll
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 11
Young Americans' job market optimism plummets in new Gallup poll
10 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 11
Only 43% of Americans aged 15-34 say it is a good time to find a job, versus 64% of those 55 and older, the widest age gap among 141 countries surveyed.
Gallup said optimism among younger Americans fell 27 points from 2023 to 2025, nearing Great Recession-era lows, while older adults' views barely declined after the post-Covid rebound.
The poll links the shift to AI fears, inflation and housing costs, with pessimism especially pronounced among first-time job seekers, college graduates and young women, deepening wider generational economic and political divides.
Is the American Dream of a stable career and homeownership now an impossible fantasy for Americans under 35?
As AI erases entry-level jobs, what new path to a stable career can young Americans forge for themselves?
With the entry-level market in 'structural collapse,' is Gen Z pioneering a more resilient, entrepreneurial future of work?
Record-High Job Market Pessimism Among Young Americans: Economic, Social, and Policy Implications (2025-2026)
Overview
Recent data from late 2025 and early 2026 shows a sharp rise in job market pessimism among young Americans, especially college students and highly educated individuals not yet working full-time. This group faces the steepest decline in confidence, driven by rapid AI adoption across the workforce and real challenges in finding jobs. Nearly half of U.S. workers now describe their job search as negative, highlighting practical barriers for young job seekers. These trends signal a significant shift in sentiment, with young people struggling more than before to enter the job market and achieve economic stability.