Disillusionomics: the US economy isn’t serving gen Z | Alice Lassman

My generation is struggling for stability in a system that no longer feels fit for purpose. It's time to take that seriously

For gen Z Americans, it's hard to remember a version of the economy not defined by crisis. We finished our education online as Covid devastated the world, only to graduate into high costs of living, stagnant wages and now AI's threat to entry-level jobs. We've come of age in a system that no longer feels fit for purpose.

The result is a generation that's lost faith in the traditional markers of stability. What once defined a secure life - home, family and comfortable retirement - feels out of reach. A pension is out of the question," one friend told me. So staying in the same job no longer makes sense." She's not alone: jobseekers' confidence in keeping or finding work dropped sharply this spring, with a survey in June suggesting nearly 60% of graduates were still looking for their first jobs.

Alice Lassman is a policy expert with a focus on the global economy and gender. Her forthcoming book explores how AI's influence on gender and emotions are reshaping economic life