Young Americans' Job Market Pessimism Stands Out Globally

2026-05-12

43% of Americans aged 15-34 said it was a good time to find a local job in 2025, 21 points below those 55+, a sharp reversal from past trends. Since 2023, young people's confidence has dropped 27 points, with the steepest declines among young women, the most educated, and those not working full time. In other advanced economies, younger adults remain more optimistic, making the US a clear outlier.