Source: Theupandup
Entry-level opportunities for Gen Z have contracted sharply enough that summer employment patterns are shifting visibly—fewer young people are landing traditional jobs. The cause remains unclear: employer pullback on early-career hiring, or Gen Z's selective retreat from low-wage work. Summer work historically served as both income and resume-building for young people entering the labor force. If that pipeline is breaking, it affects how Gen Z builds professional credentials and what economic pressure they face heading into adulthood. The distinction between lockout and opt-out matters—it will track through consumer behavior, debt levels, and household formation in the years ahead.