What Gen Z Needs To Do Amid the Worst Spring Job Market in Years
The spring job market has rarely been this difficult for new graduates. Hiring has slowed, entry-level roles are disappearing and a degree that was supposed to open doors is opening fewer of them than expected.
Two financial advisors shared what Gen Z should do about it.
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The Market Is Harder Than Headlines Suggest
Robert De Lessio, director of lead advisers at Strategic Wealth Designers, described the current situation plainly. Hiring has dropped to the lowest levels since the pandemic, entry-level opportunities are being squeezed hardest and underemployment among recent graduates has climbed above 40%, according to data reported by Forbes. Employers are increasingly prioritizing experience and skills over credentials alone.
"It's a little like showing up to play musical chairs and realizing halfway through the song that someone quietly removed half the chairs," De Lessio said.
The path that once ran in a straight line from school to a job now looks more like a maze, he said, and the financial strategy has to reflect that reality.
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Budget Like Your Financial Life Depends on It — Because It Does
De Lessio pointed to budgeting as the most immediate and controllable lever Gen Z has right now.
Anthony DeLuca, CFP and CDFA at Annuity.org, agreed. The first priority, he said, is understanding the difference between wants and needs and building a budget that reflects reality rather than optimism. He also flagged a common trap: treating a credit card like a bank account.
"A credit card is not a bank account," DeLuca said. "It is the literal act of borrowing money, and going into debt will not improve your situation."
De Lessio framed budgeting as a strategic advantage rather than a constraint. In a market where starting salaries may come in lower than expected and job stability is uncertain, the person who can stretch every dollar, avoid lifestyle inflation and build financial flexibility is the person with the most options.
"In a tougher market, financial discipline isn't just smart — it's leverage," he said.
Networking Is No Longer Optional
DeLuca said breaking into this job market requires Gen Z to do something many find genuinely uncomfortable: get in front of people.
More than 50% of jobs are found through personal connections rather than online applications, he said, and more than 70% of jobs are never publicly listed at all. The familiar saying that your network is your net worth has rarely been more literally true than it is right now.
DeLuca acknowledged that networking is a particular challenge for this generation. Studies show that a majority of Gen Z reports mental health challenges, social anxiety and a tendency to avoid in-person networking events. That creates what he called a feedback loop that works against them: the less they network, the fewer opportunities they access, which makes the already difficult job market even harder to navigate.
His advice was direct. Put yourself out there and take advantage of opportunities when they come, even when it's uncomfortable.
Delay Big Financial Commitments and Treat Every Dollar as a Decision
De Lessio said this is the moment to pump the brakes on major financial moves that lock in costs before income is stable. Delaying large commitments, whether that means holding off on a new car, a lease upgrade or other significant expenses, keeps options open during a period when the financial picture can shift quickly.
The mindset shift he recommended: Stop treating spending as a default and start treating every expense as an active decision. In a market where income is uncertain, that mental reframe can be the difference between building a financial cushion and burning through whatever is available.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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