Gen Z Voice Frustrations Over Job Search Struggles in 2023 Economy

TikTok users are taking to the platform to share their frustrations and grievances about their struggles to secure employment in the current job market, sparking a wave of discussions and debates.

Fitness influencer Alison Johnson, who holds a business marketing degree, recently posted a video expressing her discontent with her serving job despite her educational background. Johnson revealed, “I make more money serving. I have my literal business marketing degree, that put me in a cute $80,000 in debt.” She lamented the significant pay cut she would face if she transitioned to a marketing job.

Similarly, another TikTok user named Natasha disclosed her unemployment since November 2022, despite having five years of experience in human resources. Natasha acknowledged the challenging job market, stating, “The reality is we are in a recession right now, and while it may not feel that way for some people, it definitely feels like that with all of the inflation.”

Despite the release of an optimistic November jobs report last week, which indicated that the U.S. economy added 199,000 jobs and the national unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 3.7%, TikTok influencers argue that these statistics don’t accurately represent their job search struggles.

Commenters on TikTok sided with the influencers, emphasizing the frustration of not benefiting from hard work and questioning the value of degrees when job opportunities are scarce.

“I’m an almost 25-year-old, going against corporate a** America, people with so much experience, all I got is my degree… the degree was the experience,” Johnson asserted in her viral post.

Natasha clarified that she’s not advocating for laziness but suggested that, “Unless you know somebody or you’re super qualified, there is like a 9 out of 10 chance that you are not getting the job.”

Career coach J.T. O’Donnell weighed in on the issue, highlighting that traditional job-seeking approaches may no longer be effective. She advised job seekers to shift their mindset from being job seekers to job “shoppers” and encouraged them to focus on specific companies that align with their skill sets.

“The biggest mistake people are making right now when it comes to looking for work is using the traditional approaches,” O’Donnell explained. “You’re probably heading over to those really big job boards… and you’re still not getting any results. That’s because everybody else is doing the same thing.”

The TikTok trend sheds light on the challenges faced by young professionals in the evolving job market and prompts discussions on alternative approaches to secure employment in 2023.