Summers used to be a time for career exploration and discovery — I worked for a reining horse trainer for two high-school summers — but now high-school and college students this year face empty months. For most students, there will be no summer school, study abroad, or career-building internships. There will be few opportunities to network and meet a mentor, to decide whether one likes being in a chemistry lab, or to save up for college.
This summer has the potential to negatively affect the rest of Generation Z’s lives. As the shutdown drags on, the unemployment rate has soared for Gen Z more than for any other age group. Joblessness jumped more than 20 points (from 11 percent to 31.9 percent) from February to April for workers between 16 and 19 years old, and just under 20 points for those aged 20–24. This spike resulted in a higher unemployment rate than during the 2009 recession.
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