10/09/2025

Generation Alpha May Find the Workplace even Tougher than Gen-Z Does

Those who report difficulties integrating Gen-Zers into the workforce won’t be happy about this

As they enter the labor market in larger numbers, many Gen-Z employees have earned their cohort the unenviable reputation of being aloof, averse to taking orders, insufficiently trained and prone to blankly staring in ways that freak older colleagues out. But if people born between 1995 and 2010 resent that criticism as harsh, they should bend an ear to hear what their bosses are saying about even younger Generation Alpha members, who've been deemed unprepared for the workforce many are already seeking to enter.

Gen-Zers who recently completed college face the challenge of overcoming their cohort's vexing workplace reputation as they struggle to land a job. They're also finding employers generally aren't hiring much anymore — and are increasingly prioritizing skills and experience over diplomas when they do. Despite these hurdles, it’s worse for the youngest Gen-Zers and the oldest members of Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024. They're having trouble finding employment for an even worse reason: Bosses say they aren't capable of doing any available jobs.

In fact, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board, 84 percent of the 500 participating hiring managers said "most high school students are not prepared to enter the workforce." Perhaps even worse, 80 percent of those respondents said the most recent crop of high school graduates were even more clueless about applying for, earning and effectively performing a job than previous generations.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Inc.