Gen Z having a hard time finding jobs, shrinking workforce adding to inflation

People have seen growing inflation since the pandemic and many are financially struggling, living paycheck to paycheck. Financial experts said a shrinking workforce plays a role in the inflation the nation is experiencing.

“For Gen Z, I do feel like we have a disadvantage,” said Jordyn Reyes, who is 23 years old.

Jordyn is currently attending college and is a Gen Z’er, meaning anyone born between 1997 and 2012. Jordyn is having a hard time finding a job that pays enough to afford necessities.

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“I noticed that if you’re trying to apply for something at a higher level, people always look at your age first and if it’s not above a certain threshold they don’t even look at anything else,” said Reyes.

Economics Department Chair at Trinity University David Macpherson said the shrinking workforce is driving up prices for everyday necessities.

“It turns out that Gen Z, at the same age as millennials were, are less likely to be in the labor force and so when you have a smaller supply of labor, that will drive up the wages,” said Macpherson.

Department Chair of Economics at the University of The Incarnate Word, Taylor Collins said higher demand is also a contributing factor.

“Millennials are in our prime consumption years, so there’s a lot of demand for goods and services, whereas the smallest generation in the labor force, Gen Z, is the ones entering into the labor force for the first time and so we’re not seeing a lot of workers at a pace to fill those jobs,” said Collins.

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According to data released by the International Labor Organization, almost 20% of Gen Z teens and adults are not in school and don’t have a job.

47%, almost half of Gen Z adults rely on financial assistance from their parents or other family members according to data released by Bank of America.

“It’s like I received so many just saying oh we looked at your application, we don’t want you,” said Reyes.

Reyes said getting turned down for jobs time and time again has become hard and even difficult to explain to mom

“She didn’t believe that I was looking for a job because she’s like ‘no company is going to tell you directly no, we’re not hiring you’,” said Reyes.