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Male Gen Zers are dropping out of the US job market in droves
New York Post • • business
Key Points:
- Male labor force participation among Gen Z (ages 16-24) has dropped significantly to 56.1%, down nearly 13 percentage points since 2000, with many young men neither working nor seeking employment.
- Experts warn that the rise of artificial intelligence could further displace entry-level jobs predominantly held by young men, accelerating their withdrawal from the labor market.
- Women, in contrast, have increased their labor force participation across most age groups, now holding slightly more jobs than men in the U.S., with much job growth concentrated in female-dominated sectors like healthcare.
- Economic and social challenges, including pessimism about future earnings and the rising cost of living, contribute to young men’s reluctance to enter or remain in the workforce, with some opting for trade apprenticeships while others drop out entirely.
- Declining male enrollment and completion rates in higher education, combined with a shrinking value of college degrees, add to the challenges faced by young men in securing stable employment.
