The Joe Reis Show Freestyle Fridays - The Kids are Alright
Dec 12, 2025
An engaging conversation unfolds as a father and his 15-year-old son explore the disillusionment teens feel towards white-collar jobs. The youth perceive traditional paths as insecure and meaningless. They express a preference for meaningful work and skilled trades. The discussion delves into AI's impact on employment and the importance of choosing careers that align with personal values rather than fear of automation. Entrepreneurship is spotlighted as a strategic avenue for the next generation, emphasizing the fusion of human creativity with technological advancements.
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Teen Conversation Sparks Career Rethink
- Joe Reis describes a conversation with his 15-year-old son about post-high-school plans and skepticism about traditional white-collar careers.
- The son and his friends view white-collar work as insecure, abusive, and meaningless, prompting different career considerations.
How Management Philosophy Shifted Job Security
- Joe links the erosion of stable white-collar careers to corporate practices like mass layoffs and shareholder-value focus pioneered by leaders such as Jack Welch.
- This shift broke the social contract between employers and employees, normalizing hostile behaviors like end-of-year layoffs.
Labor Power Decline Shapes Teen Perceptions
- Joe argues labor power has declined (unions weakened) and post-COVID hiring + macro shifts expose fragility in knowledge-work employment.
- Teenagers perceive college-to-job pipelines as less reliable, making traditional paths less attractive.
