U.S. Youth Job Confidence Drops, Global Gap in Optimism Widens

Gallup data show the U.S. has the largest generational gap in local job-market optimism: 43% of 15–34-year-olds view now as a good time to find a job locally, versus 64% of those 55 and older, a 21-point gap. Youth optimism has fallen 27 points since 2023, a pattern not seen in most OECD countries where younger adults remain more optimistic than older adults; the steepest declines are among highly educated young people not yet in full-time work, possibly reflecting anxiety about automation and AI on entry‑level jobs.