Opinion: For Gen Z-ers, work is now more depressing than unemployment
One hypothesis: The workplace is markedly worse, writes Jessica Grose.
From The Times
December 8, 2025

Members of Gen Z get the bad rap of being “unemployable” because apparently they do not prize achievement for its own sake, writes Jessica Grose. But Gen Z-ers don’t even deserve this perfunctory slander.

An illustration of a woman with her head in her hands, crying. The tears are falling onto a photo name badge hanging from her neck, and the woman on it is smiling.

Eleanor Davis

Opinion

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