CGK President Jason Dorsey recently joined Yahoo Finance to discuss one of the most significant—and often overlooked—financial challenges facing Gen Z today.
The headline from the conversation:
Gen Z isn’t most afraid of losing a job.
They’re more afraid of not being able to find the next one.
This growing concern is shaping Gen Z’s financial and workplace behavior in ways that leaders, employers, and parents need to understand.
What Gen Z Is Experiencing in Today’s Job Market
In the interview, Jason explained that Gen Z is navigating a moment that feels deeply unstable. Many young adults are applying for dozens—or even hundreds—of roles without hearing back. They’re watching friends struggle for months to get hired, and competition for early-career jobs is increasing.
As a result, even those who are currently employed worry about how long it would take to find their next role if something changed.
This uncertainty is fueling a behavioral shift CGK has never seen at this scale:
Gen Z is building emergency savings quickly.
Even small amounts—$100, $200, $1,000—offer a buffer in a job market they don’t fully trust to catch them during a transition.
Pulling Back, Spending Less, Feeling the Squeeze
Gen Z’s caution extends beyond savings. They’re also reducing their spending at levels not explained by inflation alone. Many are experiencing sticker shock from rising healthcare costs, higher rents, and everyday essentials that no longer feel “everyday.”
Compounding this pressure, a significant portion of Gen Z continues to rely on parental financial support—but those same parents are facing increasing financial strain themselves. The lifeline that once provided stability now has less margin.
A Growing Divide Within Gen Z
Jason also shared a trend emerging inside the generation itself: a widening gap in financial and career stability.
Some Gen Zers are moving forward—landing roles, building savings, and gaining momentum. Others, often from the same age group or even the same hometown, feel stuck or left behind. This split is creating quiet stress, comparison, and uncertainty that influence how Gen Z views their own progress and job security.
Add ongoing layoffs across industries, and Gen Z’s concern isn’t just about losing a job—it’s about whether they’ll be able to find the next one.
The Patterns Leaders Need to Watch
All of these pressures help explain the behaviors CGK is observing in our research:
- Pulling back on spending
- Building savings faster
- Increased caution at work
- Staying longer in jobs they might have left before
- Feeling financially vulnerable even with income
This moment is shaping Gen Z’s approach to career decisions, financial habits, and workplace behavior—and it’s essential for leaders who want to support, engage, hire, and retain early-career talent.
Learn More About Gen Z
If you work with Gen Z—at home or at work—we encourage you to watch the full interview. You can view it here and join the conversation on Jason’s LinkedIn post.
To dive deeper into Gen Z’s behaviors and emerging trends, explore CGK’s annual State of Gen Z® research or download complimentary chapters of Denise (CGK’s CEO) and Jason’s bestselling book, Zconomy.
At CGK, we remain committed to separating myth from truth and helping leaders unlock the potential of every generation.
