America's job market optimism gap is the worst in the world
Summary
Young Americans feel much less hopeful about finding jobs compared to older Americans, creating the largest gap in job optimism between generations among 141 countries surveyed by Gallup. This divide is greater than in countries like China, Serbia, and the UAE, where young people are also less optimistic but to a smaller extent.Key Facts
- Only 43% of Americans aged 15 to 34 think it will be a good time to find a job in 2025, while 64% of people 55 and older feel positive.
- The 21-point optimism gap in the U.S. is the largest among all countries surveyed.
- In China, the optimism gap between young and old is 12 points; other countries with gaps include Serbia, UAE, Hong Kong, and Norway.
- Normally, younger generations in most countries feel more positive about job prospects than older adults.
- Younger Americans with higher education who are not yet working full time show the biggest drop in job optimism.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) replacing entry-level jobs is a major reason young people feel discouraged.
- Many young Americans report difficulty finding jobs and feel they must change their career plans because of AI.
- The survey included about 1,000 people per country and covered 141 countries from March to December 2025.
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