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HomeNewsAre Gen Z and Millennials Unprepared For The Housing and Job Markets?

Are Gen Z and Millennials Unprepared For The Housing and Job Markets?

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The socio-economic landscape isn’t what it used to be. It has dramatically evolved over the last decade.

A collage of a home key and a keyboard
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The recent pandemic presented novel challenges for adults, including Millennials and Gen Z, searching for a stable career and a home for themselves.

The real estate market has witnessed a skyrocketing in prices, making the dream of younger generations owning homes remain a distant dream or fantasy.

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The Labor Market Has No Guarantees

Also, there are no longer guarantees in the labor market that one could launch a career path and succeed. It’s not just enough to have an incredible plan or outstanding skills.

A road sign that reads ‘Uncertainty Ahead’
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There are some unique challenges today. Thankfully, there are also innovative strategies that can help Millennials and Gen Z navigate their financial and professional paths with more success.

ALSO READ: Federal Court Indicts Homesellers, Realtors, and NAR for Inflating Home Sales Commission 

It Is Now Impossible For Young  Adults To Own Homes

The younger generation faces more hurdles between them and their dream homes. Research shows that most young adults between 18 and 34 believe that the real estate market is friendlier to their parents than it is for them currently.

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A hand holding a key with a little house key holder
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They have this perception because houses cost much more than they earn in today’s real estate market. To make it even more challenging for them, saving enough money for a down payment for a house is not easy.

The Younger Generation Faces Challenges in the Workplace

Besides the real estate woes,  young adults face unique work challenges. Some people can’t seem to land a job, while others find it challenging to climb the corporate ladder.

A man climbing a flight of stairs
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Now, the labor market has a young workforce that’s barely tapped of its potential, struggling to find jobs and find a path to career advancement. This is a different narrative that is a lot different from earlier generations.

Millennials and Gen Z Are Financially Disadvantaged

For the younger generation, their financial journeys are riddled with many hurdles that make many of them feel like they have fewer opportunities than their parents did years before. This feeling of disadvantage is not entirely misplaced because they have experienced several economic woes firsthand that have limited their financial progress.

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Recessions and the adverse effects of the global pandemic have created constraints that affect their chances to create and accumulate wealth through opportunities like investing in real estate, which used to be successful. 

ALSO READ: Whoopi Goldberg Berates the Millennial Generation on “The View”

The American Dream Seems to Be Just a Dream

For over a century, the American Dream used to be something everyone living in America could materialize for themselves.

The American flag
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Unfortunately for the younger generation, this dream doesn’t seem tangible for the younger generation. The hope of securing a good job in a chosen career path and owning a home is vanishing before their eyes like smoke.

The American Economy is in a Bad Place

The economy suffers from inflation, a disappearing middle class, and a widening wealth gap.

A downward arrow against the backdrop of a dollar bill
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For those lucky enough to have a reasonable stream of income, it wasn’t an easy path they had to take. This shift from what used to be a standard milestone becoming a luxury has made young people reconsider what the American Dream means in their current reality.

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Millennials Can’t Afford to Become Homebuyers

Millennials have come of age to become homebuyers, but then the affordability crisis has impeded their ability to own homes. Most of the potential homebuyers in the market today are millennials, but the financial odds are stacked so high against them.

A house with a ‘For Sale’ sign
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As mortgage rates and home prices continue to climb, young adults find their hands tied, unable to own a home, no matter how much they desire to own one.

The Younger Generation Are Discovering Creative Home Buying Strategies

With all the financial challenges they face, some millennials are thinking outside the box to come up with creative methods of buying a home for themselves. While some of them have discovered wedding registries to be a great way to gather funds. Others have settled to live with their parents for as long as they need to before they can afford to buy their homes.

An illustration of hands holding a bag of money and a home
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These unique methods of tackling their challenges show how determined this young generation is to live their dreams of being financially buoyant to become homeowners.

ALSO READ: San Francisco Small Businesses Face Auctioning Due to Mortgage Crisis

The Labor Market Hasn’t Been a Playground For Younger Generations

The younger generation found themselves entering into the labor market at what could be considered a wrong time. With the Great Recession looming over the economy, they found themselves with so many homes and very few opportunities.

A graph showing a downward trend
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This disadvantaged start causes a ripple effect on their careers, and they need to work even harder to find a firm professional foundation.

Remote Work Hasn’t Been Without Its Disadvantages

Remote work has been a ray of hope for many young people. However, alongside its advantages are also disadvantages that limit career growth. For example, there is a lack of networking and mentorship opportunities.

An illustration of people working remotely
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This new method of work has provided flexibility, convenience, and much more. However, it comes at the cost of constraining professional career growth, especially for young people just getting started.

Side Hustle Have Become Their Best Friend

In an attempt to escape the challenging economic landscape, side hustles have offered some sort of hope. The younger generation is more appreciative of the opportunity to juggle gigs and other income streams to stay afloat.

An Illustration of someone with multiple streams of income.
Source: Pinterest

One of the driving factors for the rise of side hustle is the growing trend of remote work, which offers the ability to earn more from multiple avenues. Not only does this show the resilience and adaptability of the younger generation, but It also shows the importance of not placing all your eggs in one basket in the job market.

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