Millennials, Gen Z go on tirades over jobs climate: 'A bone to pick with America'

Published

2 years ago

December 29, 2023

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These TikTokers have “a bone to pick with America” over their employment status.

Young Gen Z and millennial influencers are facing social media backlash and some commenters support about not being able to secure a job in the 2023 economy.

“So Im headed to my serving job, I fking hate it,” fitness influencer Alison Johnson posted to TikTok in October. “I make more money serving. I have my literal business marketing degree, that put me in a cute $80,000 in debt.”

“And I make more serving sushi rolls,” she continued to explain. “Ive been applying to marketing jobs for weeks now, and the pay cut is insane. But the jobs that are like a cute $150,000 to $200,000 a year, Im not getting those.”

In a similar rant-style video, another potential candidate who goes by her first name, Natasha, said she knew she was giving a “hot take, but hear me out.”

“I really hope my dad doesnt see this,” Natasha started. “I have been unemployed since November of 2022, and we are now in August of 2023. Ive been working in human resources for five years, and I have applied to literally a million jobs.”

“No matter how many jobs I apply to, getting a job feels impossible. The reality is we are in a recession right now,” she added, “and while it may not feel that way for some people, it definitely feels like that with all of the inflation. My hot take is to literally just wait til things blow over.”

While the TikTok users complain about difficulties in finding a fulfilling job, the November jobs report released last week showed theUS economy added 199,000 jobs, above analyst forecasts.

Additionally, the national unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 3.7% after rising for three straight months, driven by a sizable drop in the jobless rate for teenagers.

Job gains were mostly concentrated in a handful of sectors last month, with the biggest gains in health care (76,800), government (49,000) and leisure and hospitality (40,000).

Hiring in manufacturing also trended upward, reflecting the return of UAW workers who had been on strike against General Motors, Stellantis and Ford.

Employment declined in retail trade, reflecting declines in department stores as well as furniture, home furnishings and electronics retailers.

Its a hot take, but hear me outand i knkw this doesnt apply to everyone, but i feel like a lot of people will be able to relate #unemployed #unemployed2023

But despite the optimistic data, TikTokers feel it doesnt accurately represent their job search struggles.

“Im an almost 25-year-old,” Johnson also said in her viral post, “going against corporate a** America, people with so much experience, all I got is my degree the degree was the experience.”

Comments on TikTok side with her defense: “Her point was she makes more as a server than with a degree”; “Shes exactly right, its frustrating to not benefit after hard work how do you put in experience when you dont get a chance”; “What people arent getting is shes not expecting a $150k job, but she expects a good paying one, with $80k student loans she cannot afford to reduce.”

Natasha clarified in her video that shes not advising potential hires to be “lazy or just throw in the towel,” but: “Unless you know somebody or youre super qualified, there is like a 9 out of 10 chance that you are not getting the job.”

Corporate worker-turned career coach J.T. ODonnell explained why it feels like you cant find a job in 2023.

“The biggest mistake people are making right now when it comes to looking for work is using the traditional approaches,” ODonnell said on TikTok. “Youre probably heading over to those really big job boards, like Indeed or a Zip Recruiter, and youre applying and not getting any results. Maybe youre even over-applying at this point and youre still not getting any results. Thats because everybody else is doing the same thing.”

The career coach pointed out that theres too much competition, and that studies show only about 3% of online applicants ever hear back from the employer.

ODonnell encouraged changing your mindset from a job seeker, to a job “shopper.”

“You have to start to look for the 20 or 30 companies in your area that you would like to work for that hire for your skill sets,” she said. “Employers are brands, and when you can share with them your connection story and tell them why you admire and respect them and how you came to know that theyre a great place to work, youre going to stand out.”

FOX Business Megan Henney contributed to this report.

Sports

Mets sit banged up McNeil, Nimmo vs. Nationals

Published

36 mins ago

August 21, 2025

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Mets sit banged up McNeil, Nimmo vs. Nationals

Associated Press

Aug 21, 2025, 03:26 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Jeff McNeil has a sore right shoulder, the latest nagging injury for the New York Mets as they try to recover from a late-summer swoon.

McNeil was out of the lineup for Thursday’s series finale at Washington, with Brett Baty starting at second base. One of the Mets’ most consistent hitters, McNeil went 4 for 8 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI in the previous two games against the Nationals.

“It doesn’t bother him to swing the bat. It’s just more the throwing,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.

The shoulder problem began late last week, Mendoza said, which is why McNeil started at designated hitter on Saturday and Sunday.

Brandon Nimmo was also out of the lineup Thursday with the stiff neck that forced him to leave Wednesday night’s game in the second inning. Tyrone Taylor started in left field.

“We didn’t see much improvement overnight,” Mendoza said of Nimmo.

McNeil has experience in left, but the shoulder problem means he’s not an option there for now.

New York’s series at Washington began Tuesday with the news that catcher Francisco Alvarez has a sprained ligament in his right thumb that will require surgery. Alvarez is hoping he can play through the pain after a stint on the injured list.

Backup catcher Luis Torrens had a rough night Wednesday that included getting hit in his receiving hand by a bat on a catcher’s interference play, but Mendoza said Thursday that Torrens was “fine.”

The Mets had a three-game winning streak before Wednesday night’s loss, but the team with the biggest payroll in the majors is just 5-15 since July 28. New York entered Thursday trailing Philadelphia by 6 1/2 games in the NL East and was one game ahead of Cincinnati for the final wild-card spot.

Science

Rice University Scientists Confirm Flatband Discovery in Kagome Superconductor

Published

36 mins ago

August 21, 2025

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flatband states in CsCr₃Sb₅, a kagome superconductor. This experimental validation connects lattice geometry with emergent superconductivity, opening new pathways for engineered quantum materials, superconductors, and advanced electronics.

World

Israel maintains pressure on Gaza City as ‘first stages of attack begin’

Published

36 mins ago

August 21, 2025

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Israel maintains pressure on Gaza City as 'first stages of attack begin'

Gaza City residents say Israel carried out intense overnight bombardments as it prepares a controversial offensive to take control of the area.

Sixty-thousand reservists are being called up after Benjamin Netanyahu‘s security cabinet approved the plan earlier this month.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned of more “death and destruction” if Israel tries to seize the city, while France’s Emmanuel Macron said it would be a “disaster” that would lead to “permanent war”.

Live – UN warns of ‘forcible transfer’ as forces advance on Gaza City

Hundreds of thousands of people could end up being forcibly displaced – a potential war crime, according to the UN’s human rights office.

Gaza’s health ministry said at least 70 people had been killed in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, including eight people in a house in the Sabra suburb of Gaza City.

Israel currently controls about 75% of the Gaza Strip, but Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel must take Gaza City to “finish the job” and defeat Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu and his ministers are due to meet on Thursday to discuss the plans, according to Israeli media.

Military spokesperson Effie Defrin said earlier that “preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack” had begun – with troops operating on the outskirts of Gaza City.

Israel has said it will order evacuation notices before troops move in but satellite images show thousands of people have already left.

Residents said shelling has intensified in the Sabra and Tuffah neighbourhoods and that those fleeing have gone to coastal shelters or to central and southern parts of the Strip.

The decision to stay or leave is an agonising choice for many.

“We are facing a bitter-bitter situation, to die at home or leave and die somewhere else, as long as this war continues, survival is uncertain,” said father of seven Rabah Abu Elias.

“In the news, they speak about a possible truce, on the ground, we only hear explosions and see deaths. To leave Gaza City or not isn’t an easy decision to make,”

Most of the Israeli reservists being summoned are not expected to be in a frontline combat role and the call-up is set to take a while.

The window could give mediators more time to convince Israel to accept a temporary ceasefire.

Hamas has already agreed to the proposal – envisaging 10 living hostages and 18 bodies being released in return for a 60-day truce and the freedom of about 200 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel hasn’t officially responded, but insists it wants all 50 remaining hostages released at once. Only 20 of them are still believed to be alive.

The war started nearly two years ago when a Hamas terror attack killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250.

More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The figure doesn’t break down how many were Hamas members, but it says women and children make up more than half.

Two more people also died of starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, the ministry said on Thursday, taking the total to 271, including 112 children.

COGAT, the body controlling aid into Gaza, said 250 aid trucks entered on Wednesday, with 154 pallets air-dropped.