The Fox Business segment started, as these things do, with a question. Larry Kudlow, on a recent broadcast, wanted to know why so many Gen Z-ers seemed “dour, depressed, and unemployed,” despite what he termed an economic boom.
It’s a fair query, I suppose. The studio lights seemed especially bright that day, reflecting off the polished desk. Outside, the city was moving, as it always does. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, as of that morning, stood at 39,088. This, according to Kudlow, was a sign of prosperity.
But the mood felt different — at least, that’s what it looked like on the screen. The graphics behind him, the usual charts and graphs, told one story. The tone, though, the way the question hung in the air, hinted at another. One of the issues, he suggested, was a lack of willingness to “dive in.”
The core of the matter, as presented, was this: young people weren’t seizing the opportunities available. The jobs are out there, the prosperity is evident — why the reluctance? The segment didn’t offer any clear answers, but it did raise the question. Or maybe it was a statement.
Kudlow pointed to the unemployment rate, which, as of March 2024, was hovering around 3.8%. A low number, historically. Still, that doesn’t capture the whole picture.
The segment then shifted. A quick mention of the labor force participation rate. Some speculation about changing values. A graphic flashed: “Gen Z: The Dour Generation?”
There was a brief clip of a social media post, a young woman talking about burnout. The camera cut back to Kudlow. He nodded, a slight frown creasing his brow. And then, back to the numbers.
One of the problems, as per a recent report from the Brookings Institute, is that there seems to be a mismatch. Many Gen Z-ers have college degrees, but the jobs available don’t always match their skills or expectations. “A lot of them are overqualified,” a source in the report said. It’s a factor, at least.
The segment ended with a call, of sorts. A suggestion, really. A plea, even. The economy is booming, Kudlow seemed to imply. Come on in, the water’s fine. Or so the argument went.
The credits rolled. The lights dimmed. The question, though, lingered. Why the disconnect? And what will it take to bridge the gap?
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