Gen Z is right about the job hunt-it really is worse than it was for millennials, with nearly 60% of fresh-faced grads frozen out of the workforce | Fortune

About 58% of students graduating between 2024 and 2025 were still looking for their first job. In previous years, about 25% of graduates struggled to land work after college. Nearly 40% of earlier graduates secured full-time work by graduation, while only 12% of 2024/2025 Gen Z graduates did. The gap suggests today’s job market is more uncertain, more digital, and more demanding. Young job seekers face AI agents and a tightening white-collar market. Some people pursue unconventional work like handing in donuts or waitressing to jump-start careers. Employers also use unusual screening steps such as lunch tests and personality quizzes.

"About 58% of students who graduated between 2024 and 2025 were still looking for their first job, according to a report from Kickresume last May. Meanwhile, just 25% of graduates in previous years-such as their millennial and Gen X predecessors-struggled to land work after college. It may be tempting to think Gen Z just isn't as hungry for work as previous generations, like Whoopi Goldberg and Judge Judy espouse. However, the study suggests previous generations really could walk straight into a job much more easily than young people today."

"In fact, nearly 40% of previous graduates managed to secure full-time work in time for their graduation ceremony-but just 12% of 2024/2025 Gen Z grads could say the same, making those young job hunters three times less likely to have something lined up out of school. "The journey from classroom to career has never been straightforward," the researchers wrote. "But it's clear that today's graduates are entering a job market that's more uncertain, more digital, and arguably more demanding than ever.""

"Today's young job-seekers are up against AI agents and a tightening white-collar job market-to the point where they're handing in donuts and waitressing to try and jump-start their careers in unconventional ways. It's no secret that landing a job in today's labor market requires more than a fine-tuned résumé and cover letter. Employers are putting new hires through bizarre lunch tests and personality quizzes to even consider them for a role."

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