Americans – Generation Z (“Gen Z”). Born after 1996, most members of this generation are not yet old enough to vote, but as the oldest among them turn 23 this year, roughly 24 million will have the opportunity to cast a ballot in November. And their political clout will continue to grow steadily in the coming years, as more and more of them reach voting age. Members of Gen Z are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation, and they are on track to be the most well-educated generation yet. They are also digital natives who have little or no memory of the world as it existed before smartphones.
Unlike the Millennials – who came of age during the Great Recession – this new generation was in line to inherit a strong economy with record-low unemployment. That has all changed now with COVID-19. There are already signs that the oldest Gen Zers have been particularly hit hard in the early weeks and months. In a March 2020 Pew Research Center survey, half of the oldest Gen Zers (ages 18 to 23) reported that they or someone in their household had lost a job or taken a cut in pay because of the outbreak.
Aside from the unique set of circumstances in which Gen Z is approaching adulthood, what do we know about this new generation? To understand the generational differences and why they matter, Casey Welch, CEO of Tallo, a platform that helps Gen Z find scholarship, university, and job opportunities will be joining us on this episode to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the Gen Z.