Latest news with #Bulanda
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 4 million Gen Zers are jobless—and experts blame colleges for ‘worthless degrees' and a system of broken promises for the rising number NEETs
Over 4 million Gen Zers are not in school or work in the U.S. and in the U.K. 100,000 young people joined the NEETs cohort. But it's not generational laziness that's to blame. Experts are taking swipes at 'worthless degrees' and a system that 'is failing to deliver on its implicit promise.' There's been a mass derailment when it comes to Gen Z and their careers: about a quarter of young people are now deemed NEETs—meaning they are no longer in education, employment, or training. While some Gen Zers may fall into this category because they are taking care of a family member, many have become frozen out of the increasingly tough job market where white-collar jobs are becoming seemingly out of reach. In the U.S., this translates to an estimated over 4.3 million young people not in school or work. Across the pond in the U.K., the situation is also only getting worse, with the number of NEET young people rising by over 100,000 in the last year alone. A British podcaster went so far as to call the situation a 'catastrophe'—and cast a broad-stroke blame on the education system. 'In many cases, young people have been sent off to universities for worthless degrees which have produced nothing for them at all,' the political commentator, journalist and author, Peter Hitchens slammed colleges last week. 'And they would be much better off if they apprenticed to plumbers or electricians, they would be able to look forward to a much more abundant and satisfying life.' With millions of Gen Zers waking up each day feeling left behind, there needs to be a 'wake-up call' that includes educational and workplace partners stepping up, Jeff Bulanda, vice president at Jobs for the Future, tells Fortune. There's no question that certain fields of study provide a more direct line to a long-lasting career—take, for example, the healthcare industry. In the U.S. alone, over a million net new jobs are expected to be created in the next decade among home health aids, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners. On the other hand, millions of students graduate each year with degrees with a less clear career path, leaving young adults underemployed and struggling to make ends meet. And while the long-term future may be bright—with an average return on investment for a college degree being 681% over 40 years, plus promises of Great Wealth Transfer—it may be coming too late for students left with ballooning student loans in an uncertain job market. Too much time has been focused on promoting a four-year degree as the only reliable route, despite the payoff being more uneven and uncertain, says Bulanda. Other pathways, like skilled trade professionals, should be a larger share of the conversation. 'It's critical that young people are empowered to be informed consumers about their education, equipped with the information they need to weigh the cost, quality, and long-term value of every path available to them,' Bulanda says. Lewis Maleh, CEO of Bentley Lewis, a staffing and recruitment agency, echoes that colleges should do better at communicating with students about career placement as well as non-academic barriers to entering the workforce, like mental health support and resilience development. 'Universities aren't deliberately setting students up to fail, but the system is failing to deliver on its implicit promise,' Maleh tells Fortune. 'The current data challenges the traditional assumption that higher education automatically leads to economic security.' Rising prices on everything from rent and gasoline to groceries and textbooks have put a damper on Gen Z, with some even having to turn down their dream job offers because they cannot afford the commute or work clothes. Plus, with others struggling to land a job in a market changing by the minute thanks to artificial intelligence, it's no wonder Gen Z finds doomscrolling at home more enjoyable than navigating an economy completely different than what their teachers promised them. The United Nations agency warns there are still 'too many young people' with skills gaps, and getting millions of young people motivated to get back into the classroom or workforce won't be easy. Efforts should include ramping up accessible entry points like apprenticeships and internships, especially for disengaged young people, as well as building better bridges between industries and education systems, Maleh says. Above all, better and more personalized career guidance is key, Bulanda adds. 'When you don't know what options exist, no one is helping you connect the dots, and the next step feels risky or out of reach—it's no surprise that so many young people pause,' he says. 'The question isn't why they disconnect; it's why we haven't done a better job of recognizing that the old ways aren't working anymore, and young people need more options and better support to meet them where they are.' Are you a Gen Zer struggling to land a job in the current climate? Share your story with This story was originally featured on
CBC
20-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Pathways celebrates 40 years of helping people find jobs, skills and confidence
Brandi Bulanda credits counsellors at the Pathways Employment Health Centre with not just helping her figure out customer service skills and Excel spreadsheets, but also with helping get her life back on track. "I've made some pretty huge life changes in the last few years," said Bulanda, 34, now a legal administrative assistant in the centre's advocacy department. The Londoner is one of about 2,300 people helped by Pathways each year. The largest employment agency in the region, it offers skills training, employment counselling and connections to more than 400 employers in southwestern Ontario. This week, Pathways is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an open house on Thursday, where it will showcase some of the training programs it offers, including in the manufacturing, construction and administrative fields. "One of the fascinating things that happens is you watch people grow in skills but also in the confidence to actually use those skills," said Paul Hubert, who has been the head of Pathways for 25 years. "You watch them come in and learn to use power tools, chop saws and skills saws and that sort of thing, but you also see them grow in confidence knowing that they know how to do something and how to effectively tell their story to an employer so they can get a job." In 2021, Pathways Skills Development merged with the London Employment Help Centre. The organization helps people looking for work, newcomers, and people who collect Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program or employment insurance. "Many of our folks are people under age 30 who are looking for their first opportunity in the workforce," Hubert said. Bulanda's job journey wasn't straightforward. After graduating from high school, she struggled to settle down and maintain a job. She tried some skills training but wasn't ready. "When I first tried to connect with Pathways, I just was not ready. Life had me going in a different direction and I wasn't ready to make the changes I needed in my life," she said. "But Pathways was there for me, offering support and guidance and encouragement. When I went back in 2019 after some personal growth, I got help through what was then the London Employment Help Centre. My employment advisor helped me navigate my career options." Bulanda took an administrative clerical training program, learning Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word, as well as typing and customer service skills. "I did a two-week co-op at Big Brothers and Big Sisters of London that was pretty awesome," she said. Surrounded by job seekers from all walks of life, the Pathways crew helped and encouraged each other, Bulanda said. "I won't lie. I was not the most patient person, and I wasn't very good with my words. Completing that program helped me go from street talk to professional talk. Being surrounded by so many different people helped me have an open mind and be aware of everyone's journey. We're all there to better ourselves and get some help so we can have a life." After getting a job as an administrative assistant welcoming people to Pathways' Horton Street location, Bulanda recently got a promotion and now has her own office, fielding questions from people who call in or stop by the Dufferin Street office. Now, she sees people who resemble the unsure young woman she used to be come into the agency and leave more fulfilled. "It's a place where people find direction, community, and purpose. Over the years, I've seen countless clients come through our doors unsure of what to do next, only to leave with certifications, job offers, and a renewed sense of hope," she said. 'Tomorrow is an opportunity' The skills that people need have changed in the last decades, Hubert said, but the core of the work that Pathways does has not. "We weren't talking about AI a few years ago or about everyone needing to be computer literate. The complexity of what employers need has changed," he said. "The cost of living has gone up substantially and support has not increased at all, so the challenge of taking that first step forward has increased," Hubert said. "We talk a lot more now about mental health challenges and the impact they have on every level in society." Approaching people looking to upgrade their skills and get a job with optimism and open-mindedness is important, Hubert said. "We like to say, yesterday never defines your tomorrow," he said. "Tomorrow is always an opportunity to be different and to have a different outcome than you did yesterday. Let's not let yesterday define your future."
