Members of Generation Z are encountering mounting financial challenges as inflation and the cost of living continue to rise. Youth unemployment stands at 10.5 percent, and approximately one-third of young adults in the U.S. remain in their parents’ households, reflecting broader economic pressures facing this demographic.
Insights from Ed Elson, host of the “Prof G Markets” podcast, and Kyla Scanlon, author of “In This Economy?”, shed light on the anxieties shaping young Americans’ financial outlook. During a discussion with MSNBC’s Katy Tur on September 19, 2025, they explored how structural economic shifts, wage stagnation, and housing affordability are influencing Gen Z’s decisions around employment, spending, and independence.
The conversation highlighted how younger workers are adapting to an economy marked by volatility and high barriers to entry in key sectors like housing and education. With many delaying traditional milestones such as homeownership or starting families, the segment underscored the need for policy responses that address intergenerational economic disparities.
— news from MSNBC News
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Gen Z faces growing economic struggles amid higher inflation and cost of living
Gen Z is struggling economically with youth unemployment at 10.5% and about 1 in 3 young adults still living at home. Host of the “Prof G Markets” podcast Ed Elson and Author of “In This Economy?” Kyla Scanlon join Katy Tur to share more on the concerns among young people.Sept. 19, 2025