Gen Z is losing its spark and the world should be worried
People carry out business in downtown Kampala in 2021. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
But despite their ambition and willingness to fight for change, their potential is being stifled
The world is incredibly lucky to have Gen Z, (people born from 1997 - 2012). This generation has been a force for change, a voice against injustice, and a wellspring of creativity. Unlike many before them, they genuinely care about creating a sustainable and inclusive world for everyone. They advocate for equality, stand up for marginalised communities, and push for environmental protection.
But despite their ambition and willingness to fight for change, their potential is being stifled. According to the International Labour Organisation, as of 2023, one in five people aged 15 to 24 were classified as NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). Gen Z doesn’t lack the desire to transform the world. They lack the resources. Everything is expensive, and opportunities are scarce. Many are forced into precarious gig work or underpaid positions that barely cover basic needs. Even those who secure decent-paying jobs struggle to make ends meet. In this environment, it’s hard to focus on innovation or activism when survival is the primary concern.
Instead of financial security, they are bombarded with pressure to chase aesthetically pleasing lifestyles, trendy foods, curated outfits, luxury travel, and dream homes. Social media markets an illusion of freedom, while reality is a daily grind just to stay afloat. The gap between the life they’re told they should live and the life they can actually afford has never felt wider. And the irony is, while there’s endless talk about job scarcity, the real scarcity seems to be something else: connection. It’s not always that jobs don’t exist—they do. But access to them is guarded. Hiring today isn’t purely about merit or experience, and it’s not even just old-fashioned nepotism. Opportunities have become transactional, exchanged to build influence, secure favours, or strengthen personal networks. Some employers often hire based on what they stand to gain, not on who is most qualified. As a result, millions of capable, hardworking young people are left stranded—not because they aren’t good enough, but because they aren’t connected enough.
Many young people chose their degrees hoping to fulfill a dream—whether it was their own or one their parents encouraged. Yet after graduation, they are met with disillusionment, as social media commentators casually label degrees as “useless.” Others are told to “add a course” onto their qualifications to stay competitive, raising the question: after years and considerable money spent studying, why isn’t the degree enough? Even when Gen Zs land a job, they are often boxed into roles that revolve around social media management, regardless of their wider skills and ambitions. Employers assume that because they grew up with technology, their primary value lies in maintaining the company's online presence, rather than contributing to broader strategy or leadership. And when they apply for roles in other fields, they’re told they’re underqualified. In response, many head back to school to get advanced degrees—only to find themselves labeled overqualified. It's a cruel loop that leaves many feeling hopeless, stuck between not enough and too much. In Uganda, as in many parts of the world, the narrative of entrepreneurship and self-employment is heavily promoted to the youth.
While encouraging innovation has its merits, the reality is that not everyone possesses the entrepreneurial spirit—or the resources—to start and sustain a business. Entrepreneurship requires not just an idea, but capital, mentorship, access to markets, and a stable economy. Another challenge Gen Z faces is the reluctance of older generations to step aside. Many continue to hold onto jobs long past retirement age. When companies do hire, they often prioritize candidates with years of experience, making it nearly impossible for fresh graduates to get a foot in the door. According to the Deloitte 2024 Gen Z and millennial survey, over 50 percent of Gen Z reported feeling stressed or anxious about their financial future, with many struggling to find stable work. They are battling overwhelming fears about being laid off, facing expensive medical bills, dealing with black tax, and wondering if they’ll ever have the stability to build a family.
Therapy is often recommended as the solution to mental health struggles, but in reality, it remains out of reach for many. As a result, many are left to battle anxiety and depression without professional support, suffering in silence as their mental health quietly deteriorates. Gen Zs are not lazy, unmotivated, or entitled. They are simply exhausted from trying to survive in an economic system that was never built for them to thrive. How can a generation change the world when they are one paycheck away from homelessness, one hospital bill away from financial ruin? The world has always needed its young people to push society forward. But if Gen Z is too consumed with survival to innovate, advocate, or create, then the world loses something far greater than a generation, it loses progress.
Shamillah Namutebi,
Journalist
