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They’re doing what they can to secure their futures.
Constantly being forced to pivot professionally by changing industries or turning to trade work, youngsters born between 1997 and 2012 have been nicknamed the “reroute generation” — whether they like it or not.
A new report by Zety, a resume template service, found that Gen Z is in constant fear that AI will take over the workforce, so 43% of them have already changed their career plans, while 40% are teaching themselves new skills or earning certifications, per
For the two reports Zety conducted on the topic, a team of researchers asked close to 1,000 Gen Z employees in the U.S. about their career development and the rise of AI and social media.
The report also pointed out that over half of Gen Z do not have much faith in their college education protecting them from AI-related job loss, so 53% are looking into what they believe to be more stable career paths, like blue-collar or skilled trade roles, according to the report.
This generation’s “interest in trade work and hands-on careers shows a desire for purpose, security, and control in an AI-driven world,” Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at Zety, told HR Drive.
“I call this shift the ‘AIxiety Pivot’ — a growing movement of professionals who are proactively changing course because of AI-related fears and instability,” she added.
“Trade jobs offer hands-on work that’s difficult to automate. Additionally, many grads find their degrees don’t lead to careers in their field, prompting them to explore more practical, in-demand alternatives,” Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller added.
Zety’s second report found that 46% of Gen Z have landed a job or internship through, believe it or not, TikTok. And while their millennial counterparts are scrolling LinkedIn, 76% of the youngsters are relying on Instagram for career content and advice.
A whopping 95% of them will even check out a company’s social media before applying for a job there.
“Social media has become today’s career classroom,” said Escalera. “It’s where young workers are learning, networking, and finding opportunities — but also where they’re developing a sharper sense of what kind of work aligns with their values.”
