Why Gen Z Is Struggling to Get Jobs — The Facts Behind It

Gen Z is not simply “refusing to work.” That explanation is too easy, and it misses what is happening in the labour market beneath the headlines. Many young people are applying, retraining, lowering expectations, and still finding that the first step into stable work is harder than it looked from the outside.

The problem is a mix of fewer entry-level routes, tougher competition, weak work experience, employer caution, mental health pressures, and the early effects of AI on junior roles. In the UK, the challenge is visible in the data: the youth unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds reached 16.2% in early 2026, up from 14.2% a year earlier.