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Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4.3 Million Gen Z Are Struggling To Find Direction In A Tough Job Market, Handshake Executive Says 'Gen Z Faces A Particularly Uncertain Job Market'
"Gen Z is entering an especially unpredictable job market," said Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, who emphasized the growing need to align education investments more closely with career outcomes. Her comments during an "Inside Higher Ed" podcast on April 30 follow a report from Measure of America of the Social Science Research Council, which shows that 4.3 million Gen Z adults in the U.S. are not in school, working, or in job training. Don't Miss: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — The post-pandemic job market has put young professionals in a tight spot. Kyle M.K., a career trends expert at Indeed, told Fortune that "another 38% feel student loans have limited their career growth more than their diploma has accelerated it." According to a recent survey by Indeed's Hiring Lab, 51% of Gen Z graduates now regret their degrees—compared to 41% of millennials and just 20% of baby boomers. The rising cost of college is one factor driving that regret. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a bachelor's degree now sits at $38,883. Meanwhile, total student loan debt nationwide has reached $1.77 trillion. The pressure has become so severe that according to the Department of Education, over 5 million borrowers are currently in default as of April, and nearly 4 million more are at risk of defaulting in the coming months. Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace — The economic stress hasn't stopped at finances. Many young workers are increasingly unsure whether their degree has any practical use in a market being reshaped by artificial intelligence. Higher Ed Dive reported that 45% of Gen Z respondents now believe AI has made their college education feel irrelevant. Still, employers are responding. In fact, M.K. pointed out that 52% of U.S. job postings on Indeed no longer require a formal degree—suggesting a shift toward skills-based hiring. Yet, even skills don't always guarantee a high return on investment. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average ROI for a bachelor's in education is minus 54.67%, meaning grads may earn less over their lifetimes than they spent getting the degree. Despite these stats, Cruzvergara warned against focusing solely on short-term financial returns. "It's shortsighted to focus only on immediate employment, as that makes the assumption that the value of higher education is only to get your first job," she told Fortune. Instead, she argued, college helps build leadership skills, fosters self-discovery, and creates long-term career in point: Mark Zuckerberg famously dropped out of Harvard, but not before meeting the co-founders who helped him launch what would become Meta (NASDAQ:META). "Zuckerberg's college experience laid the foundation for what came next—even without a degree," Cruzvergara said. And while AI may spook job seekers, it's not the grim reaper of careers. M.K. said AI is "more of an amplifier than a pink slip." While it may replace basic content writing or data entry, creative, medical, and strategic roles remain largely insulated. "AI won't invalidate a solid education," M.K. added, "but it will reward those who keep upgrading their toolkit." Read Next: The team behind $6B+ in licensing deals is now building the next billion-dollar IP empire — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article 4.3 Million Gen Z Are Struggling To Find Direction In A Tough Job Market, Handshake Executive Says 'Gen Z Faces A Particularly Uncertain Job Market' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is College Still Worth It? Gen Z And Millennials Are Losing Faith As AI Disrupts The Job Market
As tuition costs climb and artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce, a growing number of young Americans are questioning whether a college degree still offers a meaningful return on their investment. For Gen Z and millennials, the traditional value of higher education is under scrutiny — especially in an economy where degrees no longer guarantee job security or career growth. A recent survey by Indeed found that 51% of Gen Z professionals consider their college degree a waste of money, compared to 41% of millennials and just 20% of baby boomers. For many younger graduates, the cost of education, combined with student loan burdens and an uncertain job market, has made them question whether college was the right path. Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a bachelor's degree has doubled over the past 25 years, now exceeding $38,000. Meanwhile, student loan debt in the U.S. is nearing $2 trillion. These financial strains are shifting how young professionals view their degrees: nearly four in 10 say student debt has slowed their career growth more than their diploma has helped it. Artificial intelligence has introduced another layer of doubt for recent grads. About one-third of college-educated workers believe AI has already made their degree irrelevant, according to Indeed — a figure that climbs to 45% among Gen Zers. Yet some experts argue this fear may be overstated. "AI is not going to take your job," Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told The New York Times last year. "The person who uses AI well might take your job." Similarly, Kyle M.K., a career expert at Indeed, told Fortune that while some technical roles are more exposed to automation, areas like nursing and creative strategy remain relatively insulated. The key, he says, is adaptability: "AI won't invalidate a solid education, but it will reward those who keep upgrading their toolkit." Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — . Even as more young people earn degrees, the job market doesn't always reflect that value. Researchers suggest the "college wage premium" — the extra income typically earned by degree holders — has plateaued. And with more graduates than ever before, competition for skilled jobs has intensified. This shift may explain why 68% of Gen Zers say they could do their current job without a degree, compared to just 49% of baby boomers. Employers seem to agree — more than half of U.S. job postings on Indeed now omit education requirements entirely. Despite skepticism about the financial return of college, some still find personal or professional value in the experience. Christine Cruzvergara of Handshake told Fortune that higher education helps students build networks, discover career paths, and develop long-term leadership and problem-solving skills. Nico Maggioli, a design graduate from Syracuse University, echoed this sentiment. He told Indeed that the mindset he gained — learning how to think like a designer — matters more today than mastering specific technical skills, many of which AI can now increasingly recommend that students and workers focus on building adaptable skills rather than chasing degrees for prestige alone. Francisco Marmolejo, higher education president at the Qatar Foundation, told Indeed, "A big advantage of generative AI is that educational institutions will have more time to prepare students on the humanistic side. More effective efforts can and should be dedicated to making sure that all students become competent in much more valued skills for the future of work, such as analytical skills, teamwork, and critical thinking.' For Gen Z and younger generations, college may not be obsolete, but its value depends more than ever on how well it prepares graduates for a rapidly changing world. Read Next: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? . Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Is College Still Worth It? Gen Z And Millennials Are Losing Faith As AI Disrupts The Job Market originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nearly half of Gen Z and millennials say college was a waste of money—AI has already made degrees obsolete
College graduates are calling their degrees worthless. According to new data from Indeed, piling student loans and fears of AI reshaping the workplace are to blame. While experts say higher education is still important, Gen Z should constantly prioritize 'upgrading their toolkit' to be successful. College is often advertised as the best four years of one's life, but many Americans now have regrets. More than a third of all graduates now say their degree was a 'waste of money,' according to a new survey by Indeed. This frustration is especially pronounced among Gen Z, with 51% expressing remorse—compared to 41% of millennials and just 20% of baby boomers. Overall, a growing share of college-educated workers are questioning the return on investment (ROI) of their degree, Kyle M.K., a career trend expert at Indeed, told Fortune. It's something that's not all too surprising considering that the average cost of a bachelor's degree has doubled in the last two decades to over $38,000, and total student loan debt has ballooned to nearly $2 trillion. 'Another 38% feel student loans have limited their career growth more than their diploma has accelerated it,' M.K. said. 'Together, these realities are nudging universities and employers to shift focus from pedigree to practical skill. In fact, 52% of U.S. job postings on Indeed don't list any formal education requirement.' However, for many young people, this realization is coming too late. Already, some 4.3 million Gen Z have been left behind as 'NEETs'—not in education, employment, or training—with no clear direction on how to restart their early careers. For young people in particular, who are navigating a less than ideal job market, it can be difficult to see the long-term ROI of college. This is especially true when, for some subjects, like psychology, philosophy, or English, it can take over 20 years in the workforce for the degree to pay for itself, according to the Education Data Initiative. However, Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, warns against valuing a degree from a purely quantitative standpoint. 'It's shortsighted to focus only on immediate employment, as that makes the assumption that the value of higher education is only to get your first job,' Cruzvergara told Fortune. 'When in reality, higher education contributes to career advancement opportunities, exposure to a variety of fields, aids in self-discovery, and develops management and leadership skills.' While nearly 70% of young graduates believe they could do their job without a degree, they may have not been exposed to their network without it. Cruzvergara says that universities are failing to promote that they're more than just a piece of paper that'll open doors after graduation day, but a hotbed for learning and meeting like-minded people while on campus. For example, Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard during his sophomore year to focus on building Facebook into the social media empire it is today. But he couldn't have done it without the four cofounders he met at university. 'Gen Z faces a particularly uncertain job market, and there's a need for a better connection between education investment and outcomes,' she adds. The spread of artificial intelligence into all parts of education and the workplace has made college graduates question their degree even more, with some 30% feeling AI has outright made their degree irrelevant—a number that jumps to 45% among Gen Zers. This is despite efforts from thought leaders in the space to calm fears about AI replacing workers. 'AI is not going to take your job,' Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos said last year. 'The person who uses AI well might take your job.' While M.K. admits that skill areas like routine programming, basic data analysis, and templated content creation have become highly exposed to AI, fields like nursing, advanced project management, and creative strategy are relatively insulated. 'AI is more of an amplifier than a pink slip,' M.K. said, adding that above all else, those who prioritize lifelong learning and have open conversations with their employer about AI will be able to soar in the wake of technological advancements. 'AI won't invalidate a solid education, but it will reward those who keep upgrading their toolkit.' This story was originally featured on
