From Campus Tours to Cold Realities: Confronting My Son's Future Amidst Gen Z's Waning Trust

Young Americans aren’t pessimistic without reason. The numbers show a future that feels out of reach—and we need to listen.

I just spent the last few days with my 17-year-old son visiting colleges. Walking across campuses, sitting in admissions sessions, and hearing students talk about their experiences, I was struck by how different this process feels compared to when I was his age.

For me, college was a straightforward equation: Get a degree, get a good job, build a life, even though I worked full time and missed out on a lot of college fun. But for my son and his generation, that math doesn’t add up so neatly. The cost has skyrocketed, the job market is shifting under their feet, and the sense of security that once came with a diploma feels less certain.

As we listened to financial aid presentations and talked through the realities of student loans, housing costs, and career prospects, I kept thinking:

This isn’t just a phase of youthful pessimism—our kids are seeing something real.

Recently, a Gallup report published in the Financial Times confirmed this. It laid out in stark numbers what so many young people already feel: the old promises of stability, affordability, and opportunity aren’t holding up for them the way they did for us.

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The Data Shows This Isn't Just Teen Angst

If you think Gen Z is just “too sensitive” or “doesn’t want to work hard,” the numbers tell a different story.

• Trust in the national government among Americans aged 15-29 has plummeted from over 50% in 2010 to barely 30% in 2024—one of the lowest levels of institutional trust among young people in the world.

• Confidence in the judicial system has dropped from 65% in 2010 to just 45% today.

• The percentage of young people who feel they lack freedom to choose their own path has reached 31%—worse than nearly every other advanced economy.

• Satisfaction with life’s direction among young people has fallen from nearly 90% in 2010 to just 70% now.

• Stress levels are surging: 60% of young Americans say they experienced stress “yesterday”, up from 50% in 2010.

At one college tour we were on, the guide was asked about their biggest challenge. Their answer? “The cost. Everything is just so expensive.”

It’s as if we’ve handed Gen Z a map to success, but the destinations have moved—or disappeared altogether. They’re not lost.

They just see the system isn’t working like it used to.

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Just Buy a House Isn't the Advice It Used to Be

My Mom and Dad told me this was the best thing I could do, just buy a house and you would be taken care of. One of the biggest concerns my son raised as we talked through his future wasn’t just college—it was what do I want to do next.

For decades, homeownership was the foundation of financial stability. But for Gen Z, that milestone is slipping further out of reach according to this Financial Times piece.

• The median home price is now 8.5 times the median annual income for 25-34 year olds. (In 1980, it was 3.7x.)

• Rent now consumes over 30% of income for half of young renters.

• A typical down payment today equals 70% of the median annual income for Americans under 35.

We tell them to work hard, save, and invest in a home. But they’re entering adulthood with wages that haven’t kept up, rent that eats their income, and a housing market that’s priced them out.

It’s like telling them to play Monopoly when all the properties were bought before they even sat down ( I used to lose at this game all the time)

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The $100,000 Question (or more): Is College Still Worth It?

At every college tour, the biggest unspoken question in the room wasn’t about academics, campus life, or even admissions—it was about debt.

For my generation, college was a golden ticket. It opened doors and led to stable careers. Today? It’s a gamble—one that’s more expensive than ever with no guaranteed return.

• The average student debt has increased 107% since 2003 (adjusted for inflation).

• 41% of recent college graduates work in jobs that don’t require a degree.

• Starting salaries for new grads have risen just 14% since 2000 (after inflation).

• The wage premium for college grads over high school grads is shrinking for the first time in decades.

At one school, one person asked the guide, “How many students actually land jobs in their field right after graduating?” The answer? No one I know of.

Gen Z isn’t “quitting” higher education—they’re doing the math. They see the rising cost of tuition, stagnant wages, and a job market that’s shifting rapidly.

We need to stop assuming that a degree guarantees stability.

The old playbook might be outdated.

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Work Has Changed: Stability Is the New Luxury

The traditional career ladder—get a degree, land a secure job, work your way up—has been replaced by a rock climbing wall.

• The average 32-year-old today has already worked for more than seven employers.

• 36% of the U.S. workforce now participates in gig work.

• 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been invented yet.

• Nearly 60% of Gen Z workers prioritize flexibility over job security.

One of the speakers at a career panel I was at in NY last week said it bluntly:

"The jobs we’re preparing students for today will not exist in five years."

I knew this, but it hit me hard.

Gen Z isn’t “lazy” or “entitled”—they’re adapting to a reality where stability is no longer the default.

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Bridging the Gap: When Our Advice No Longer Fits

As a parent, it’s humbling to realize that our personal experiences are no longer reliable roadmaps or maybe RELEVANT for our kids.

On this trip, I had to stop myself more than once from saying, "Well, when I was in college..." because my path simply doesn’t apply in the same way anymore.

🔹 We assumed financial stability followed education. Gen Z sees the rising debt and stagnant wages that make that promise uncertain.
🔹 We thought career paths were linear. They’re navigating a workforce with no guarantees.
🔹 We trusted institutions. They’ve watched those institutions fail them.

So can I do I thought to myself:

✅ Listen More Than I Speak – Our kids see this world more clearly than we do.
✅ Update My Mental Models – “Common sense” is often just old wisdom that no longer applies.
✅ Validate New Paths – Traditional careers aren’t the only route to success anymore.

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The Hard Truth: Our Generation Built This

If these numbers are alarming, they should be. We built the systems producing these outcomes.

We vote for the policies, run the companies, and shape the economy that Gen Z is struggling to thrive in.

They’re not jaded—they’re paying attention.

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A Future Worth Fighting For

Despite everything, I’m still an optimist.

On this trip, I saw something else in my son and the students we met: adaptability, intelligence (more than I had), and a deep desire for something better.

They are:
🔹 More financially aware than previous generations
🔹 More adaptable in a rapidly changing world
🔹 More willing to challenge broken systems

We owe them honest conversations, real solutions, and a future where their efforts actually pay off.

Just a few thoughts after a few days of “vacation”

Link to full post if you are interested - https://www.ft.com/content/44a7927b-66d7-4321-8425-08ed162a3994

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About Jason Averbook
Jason Averbook is a globally recognized thought leader in Digital HR Strategy, Generative AI, and the future of work—named one of the Top 25 Human Capital and Work Thought Leaders in the world. With over two decades guiding the HR tech evolution, Jason champions shifting from simply executing technology projects to truly embodying a digital mindset. He’s authored two influential books, founded Leapgen, and regularly inspires global audiences as a speaker, advisor, and educator.

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