Work, Interrupted: Gen Z face the harshest job market in years

Monday, 14 July 2025

Impossible. Depressing. Emotionally tiring. Frustrating. Financially ruinous. Heartbreaking. Ignored. These are just a few of the ways young people desperate for work describe their quest for employment. As part of the Work, Interrupted series Elsie Williams speaks to rangatahi who are qualified and motivated — and still locked out of the workforce.

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CVs handed out in person. Hundreds of online applications. And, all too often, not even the courtesy of a rejection.

“I’ve applied for over 200 jobs and only had two interviews — but they want experience, and how am I supposed to get that if no one will give me a chance?” asks 18-year-old Conner Green, one of many young Kiwis facing this harsh reality.

This is the unfortunate new landscape for young job seekers around the country — many of whom are qualified, ready to work but just cannot get a job.

After The Press asked young people via TikTok and Instagram to share their experiences — the videos being viewed 750,000 times in just four days — hundreds got in touch to share what it is like trying, and failing, to get hired in New Zealand right now.

What unites them? A growing sense of hopelessness.

‘If you're young and can't find a job, it’s not you - it’s them’

Young people are bearing the brunt of New Zealand’s downturn “by a country mile”, says economist Brad Olsen, chief executive of consultancy Infometrics — and it’s not their fault.

Nationwide, 16% of 15 to 24-year-olds are now unemployed, according to the latest Stats NZ data. That’s up from 10.3% in early 2022, and is the sharpest rise of any age group.

Olsen said the number of young people aged 15 to 19 currently in work is 10% below what it was a year ago.

“There’s only really been three major peaks in youth unemployment — in the early 90s, during the Global Financial Crisis, and now.”

During Covid, youth employment soared as borders closed, but that boom has snapped back fast.

“We whipsawed from the best labour market for young people to one of the most challenging.”

The number of jobs advertised is down 37% from two years ago, and applications per role have tripled in some areas, Olsen said.

With fewer roles and more applicants, employers are leaning on experience — something younger people, by nature, do not have.

This isn’t helped by the economic slowdown and inflation pressures that have tightened the job market.

Asked what people can do, Olsen had a simple message: “If you’re a young person out there who can’t find a job: it’s not you, it’s them.”

Too young for a chance

Eager to start their careers, many young people are finding themselves locked out — held back by a lack of experience and struggling to even get a foot in the door.

Conner Green, from Christchurch, left his full-time job at Foodstuffs in December chasing better prospects, but has since bounced through temp contracts, fallen into debt, and ended up on the Jobseeker benefit, all while raising a two-month-old baby.

“It’s not an ideal position to be in when you’ve got so much you want to achieve. We keep getting told there are opportunities and we’ve got the capability, but there’s nowhere to grow, no offers, nothing.”

Green wants to work in the forklift industry, and worked with Work and Income to get his forklift licence, but said every job requires experience. “How are you supposed to get it if no one will give you a chance?”

With $380 a week from his benefit, Green is unable to live a “fun, enjoyable life”, and instead worries about his future and feeding his family.

Alakai Carrothers has already been recognised on a national stage at just 17, accepting the 2024 Youth Health Volunteer award on behalf of Cashmere High School.

Committed, enthusiastic, and community-minded, he assumed finding a weekend job would be simple. But after applying for more than 120 roles, he’s just hit dead ends.

“Even these credentials don’t seem to be worth it. Jobs feel out of reach.”

“I’m not demotivated, but kind of bummed. I know everyone is struggling with it, so I keep telling myself it’s only a matter of time before that one person says ‘yes’.”

Vanessa Heslip, 21, describes her days as “emotionally tiring,” spent walking the dog and applying for jobs.

After completing a personal training course at Ara, she has made more than 40 job applications in two months, only to hear “nothing”.

Her only success has been a Jobseeker benefit application.

“I really didn’t want to go on it, as I don’t want to rely on people for money. But I have no choice.”

‘That ‘lazy youth’ narrative? It’s just not true’

As they wait for a response to roles they’re fully qualified for – or even exceed the requirements – many young people are met with radio silence.

It’s a deafening reality check that’s fuelling their frustration.

Isaac Bensemann, 25, was made redundant from his logging job in May last year.

The next day he hit the pavement, handing out 40 CVs and applying for more than 100 roles online.

“I was adamant not to go on Jobseeker – I wanted to get into work.”

After nearly two months, he accepted a part-time role at $3 less per hour than he was previously earning, just to stay afloat.

“It wasn’t due to a lack of qualification. I was just ghosted or pushed aside by other employers.”

Now employed as a Class 5 truck driver, he is tired of the stereotype that young people don’t want to work.

“I did everything I could. That lazy youth narrative? It’s just not true.”

Bella Wineera backs his point, as a 21-year-old who’s battled up to 600 applicants for jobs in New Plymouth, applying for more than 150 roles with only a handful of interviews.

“It’s honestly heartbreaking.”

“I do want to work. It’s not like I’ve been relaxing on benefit money.”

Olsen said businesses are receiving up to five times more applications for their advertised jobs, and don’t have processes set up to reply to everyone – something he believes needs to change so that people are not “sitting there by the computer with bated breath while the business has already moved on”.

Degrees, diplomas and dead ends: ‘It’s crushing’

After graduating with a degree in politics and communication in November last year, 21-year-old Caitlin Wilson would spend eight hours a day refreshing job sites, dropping offer CV and applying for anything – an experience she described as incredibly stressful.

“The rejection, or not hearing back at all, really chips away at your confidence. It was so incredibly damaging to my mental health and worth.”

She eventually found a job, but said many graduates are not so lucky.

“We want to contribute, but we don’t feel like there’s space for us.”

Frustrated by a system she says “isn’t built for young people,” Wilson is now running for the Waitematā Local Board in Auckland, determined to make sure others do not feel as invisible as she has.

Olsen said the Government had a key role to play, not just in boosting economic activity, but in better connecting young people with the skills that industries actually need.

After years in the workforce, from NZ Post to hospitality, 28-year-old Caitlyn Charles, from Bishopdale in Christchurch, turned to the sickness benefit in 2023, unable to cope in the workplace.

Since then she’s done everything she can to turn things around – enrolling in training, earning qualifications, and applying for jobs across different sectors.

But despite a spreadsheet full of applications, she still has not had a single interview. “It’s crushing,” she said. “But I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

Maria Roe, in her mid-30s, holds four tertiary qualifications, speaks two languages and has worked in three countries — yet she still can’t land a job.

“I understand there’s a crisis and huge competition, but I’m tired of constant rejections — or complete silence.”

Roe said being far from family overseas while raising a child alone has made the search even tougher.

“I’m doing everything I can — I have the qualifications, the experience, the motivation. But it feels almost impossible to find a job in Christchurch.”

‘Hopefully’ nearing the worst of it

While the job market remains tough, Olsen said unemployment is likely at or near its peak — with a slow recovery expected through the end of 2025.

“I know that’s small consolation for people who are out there struggling, but hopefully things aren’t going to get a whole lot worse. It’s so tough out out there.”

But despite the challenges, Olsen said young people bring a fresh perspective and a natural fluency with new technology that many industries desperately need.

“We know the business world is becoming more and more technological. The ability to use emerging tech and social media is becoming important — and that’s where young Kiwis often have an advantage.”

Olsen said it’s the experience of not having experience: not doing things the same old way, and being willing to take a punt on new technology.

“It’s a real opportunity that young people can trade off into the future.”

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