Future Skills: Why Gen Z Must Be Heard

The promise of a computer‑science degree was once the surest path to success. Many students took loans, earned degrees and found high‑pay jobs. That certainty disappeared as artificial intelligence grew faster than anyone expected. Today, almost half of all code is written by machines and major tech firms are hiring fewer new graduates. Even companies like OpenAI now forbid humans from writing code, showing that the traditional programmer’s route is fading. Automation is not limited to software. Robots are replacing factory workers in China, autonomous vehicles threaten taxi and truck drivers, and warehouse jobs that drove recent growth are being phased out. Mid‑level managers—the backbone of many corporations—are also shrinking as AI takes over routine decision making. Jobs once considered safe are now at risk, leaving young people with a future that feels uncertain. Gen Z faces this uncertainty directly. Two‑thirds worry they will never own a home, and half say saving for one feels pointless. Their student‑loan debt is the heaviest of any generation, and career advancement options are narrowing from both ends. Politicians, employers, and elders all lack clear answers about which jobs will exist in the next five years. Mental health problems are rising. Loneliness and depression hit record highs, and nearly half of 18‑to‑29 year olds have no religious affiliation. When faced with these challenges, many turned to political figures promising change—some to Trump, others to progressive candidates—but the results have been mixed. The result is a growing sense of nihilism: fewer than one‑third trust the government, and only seven percent view America as a healthy democracy.In search of meaning, Gen Z increasingly turns to alternative communities. TikTok has become a hub for astrology and witchcraft, generating billions of views; a new poll shows that Gen Z is more likely than older groups to claim astrology improves their lives. Meanwhile, influencers like Clavicular push extreme looks‑maximising tips and drug use, while political figures such as Charlie Kirk offer a blueprint for purpose that some young people find compelling. History warns that when people feel purposeless, they often gravitate toward radical movements. The rise of Nazism and Bolshevism followed periods of mass nihilism, illustrating how a void in purpose can lead to dangerous outcomes. Gen Z’s current crisis is not just about jobs or money; it is also a cultural and moral vacuum that could be filled by extremist ideas if left unattended. To avoid this, elected officials must stop relying on cultural slogans and start addressing the real needs of young voters. Economic stability, a realistic path to home ownership, and renewed support for shared moral institutions are essential if the American system is to survive. No party currently delivers on these promises, and without action, Gen Z may ultimately reject the system altogether.