🚧 Why Gen Z are struggling to get into work —

 Entry-level jobs are disappearing: The number of genuine entry-level roles has fallen sharply. What used to be entry-level jobs now often demand prior experience — a paradox that leaves recent graduates in a catch-22: they can’t get experience because they can’t get the job. 

📺 Watch the full report on BBC News: ▶️

Fewer jobs + more competition: Overall hiring — especially for junior positions — has dropped. With fewer vacancies and many applicants, competition is fierce. 

Skills–job mismatch & outdated expectations: Many young job-seekers find their academic degrees don’t match what employers want; employers increasingly prefer specific practical skills (communication, real-world experience, digital fluency) over just credentials. 

Changing values & priorities: Gen Z often values work-life balance, meaningful work, mental health, and flexibility more than rigid office culture or long hours. Traditional employers, expecting loyalty and “always-on” commitment, sometimes see these priorities as lack of dedication or “entitlement.” 

Automation and AI reducing opportunities: With automation (AI, digital tools) taking over many entry-level tasks, companies are less inclined to hire large numbers of fresh graduates or junior entrants, shrinking the pathway “from zero to career.” 

Emotional and financial stress for job-seekers: Many Gen Z job-seekers face rejections, long waits, uncertainty, and even scams while applying. The process can be demoralizing, and many give up before landing a job. 

👉 In short: Gen Z are not “lazy” — the job market, hiring practices, economic conditions and social expectations have shifted dramatically. What previous generations considered a “graduate → stable job” pipeline no longer reliably works.