Gen Z Investment Trends and Employment Challenges
Gen Z Investment Trends and Employment Challenges
📊 Gen Z Outsmarts Wall Street
Key Investment & Financial Trends:
- 60% of Gen Z actively invest in stocks beyond 401(k)s
- 62% prefer social media financial advice over traditional advisors
- 60% believe full-time work won't meet financial goals
Employment Landscape:
- College-educated Gen Z men face same unemployment rates as non-grads
- 58% of recent Gen Z grads struggling to find full-time work
- 40% of millennials and Gen Z rely on side jobs
Financial Security:
- Gen X reports highest financial insecurity (84%)
- Gen Z follows at 80%
- First-time home buyers hit historic low
The data suggests a shifting financial mindset among younger generations, despite challenging employment conditions.
20% of job-seekers have been searching for work for at least 10 to 12 months, per FORTUNE.
11% of Gen X who have been laid off have taken pay cuts to escape unemployment, per FORTUNE
60% of Gen Z members say that working a full-time job will not allow them to reach their financial goals, per MW. Among baby boomers, 35% shared that view.
The number of first-time home buyers has shrunk to a historic low, per FORTUNE.
"Gen Z men with college degrees now have the same unemployment rate as non-grads," per FORTUNE
25% of older Gen X and young boomer workers who have been laid off in the past decade haven’t been able to find a new job since, per FORTUNE
"Gen Z is right about the job hunt—it really is worse than it was for millennials," per FORTUNE
"Gen Z and millennials can’t afford to buy a house," per FORTUNE
62% of Gen Z would choose to get financial advice from social media over traditional financial advisers, per MW
58% of recent Gen Z grads are still on the hunt for full-time jobs — a stark contrast to just 25% of earlier graduates like millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers at the same stage, per FORTUNE
Roughly four in 10 millennials and Gen Zers have side jobs, per Deloitte.
22% of employees 40 and up say their workplaces skip over older workers for challenging assignments, and 16% say they’ve witnessed a pattern of being passed over for promotions in favor of younger staffers, per FORTUNE
60% of Gen Z invest in the stock market outside of their 401(k)s, per Harris Poll.
Among U.S. citizens between the ages of 50 and 65, 14% were laid off once in the past 10 years, with 4% being fired more than once, according to WSJ
Young male college grads are now jobless at the same rate as non-grads, per FT:
Gen Xers (ages 45-60) are the likeliest to say they are not completely financially secure currently (84%), compared to 80% of Gen Zers (ages 18-28), 79% of millennials (ages 29-44) and 69% of baby boomers (ages 61-79), per Bankrate.
Condo prices are falling, per FORTUNE
Social Security Trust Fund Depletion Timeline Update
The Social Security trust fund faces a critical timeline, with latest reports indicating funds will be depleted in approximately eight years. This aligns with earlier warnings from June 2025 about both Social Security and Medicare trust funds approaching insolvency within a decade. Key points: - Current projection: Social Security funds exhausted by 2033 - Benefits would be reduced, not eliminated, after depletion - Medicare faces similar timeline challenges This development could affect millions of Americans' retirement planning. For detailed analysis, see [Time's coverage](https://time.com/7295886/social-security-medicare-funds-benefits-cut/).
Google's Top Tech Salaries Revealed
Recent data shows competitive compensation at Google for technical roles: - **Software Engineers**: Up to $340,000 - **Product Managers**: Up to $280,000 - **Research Scientists**: Up to $303,000 - **Financial Analysts**: Exceeding $200,000 For context, a global survey of 570 engineers showed a median salary of $120,000, with North American engineers earning $193,000 on average - a 1.5% increase from previous year.
Meta Building Massive AI Data Centers
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to construct multiple large-scale data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence operations. The first facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. This development follows Zuckerberg's recent statement about observing self-improving AI systems within Meta's infrastructure. Key Points: - Multiple AI-focused data centers in development - First center operational in 2026 - Builds on Meta's existing AI capabilities - Follows observations of self-improving AI systems
Housing Market Shows Sustained Growth with 24 Months of Price Increases
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that house median prices have maintained a consistent upward trajectory, marking **24 consecutive months** of year-over-year growth. Current data shows the median U.S. home price stands at **$435,000**, representing a significant **39% increase** since 2020. - 24 months of continuous annual price growth - $435,000 current median home price - 39% price appreciation since 2020 *This sustained growth pattern indicates a robust housing market despite broader economic fluctuations.*