For younger workers, especially those in Generation Z, landing that first job is starting to feel like a cruel catch-22. Employers want experience, but how do you get experience without a job? A growing number of twentysomethings are finding that even so-called "entry-level" roles come with a hidden requirement: years of prior work under your belt. It’s a frustrating paradox that’s leaving many stuck on the sidelines.
Take Lilly Rose Burakowski, a 22-year-old from New Jersey who graduated from Rutgers University in 2023 with a biology degree. She assumed her internships—one at a doctor’s office, another at her school’s labs—would open doors. Instead, she’s spent over a year applying to hundreds of jobs, only to face rejection after rejection. Most postings she sees demand at least two years of experience, even for roles labeled as entry-level. "Employers expect you to have all this experience," she says, "but I don’t know where they think I’m supposed to get it."
A Tougher Job Market for the Young
Burakowski isn’t alone. Data backs up the struggle. The unemployment rate for 20- to 24-year-olds spiked to 8.2% in July 2024, up from 7.2% the year before, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For comparison, the overall rate hovered at 4.3%. Meanwhile, job postings on platforms like LinkedIn increasingly list experience as a must-have, even for beginner roles. Handshake, a site aimed at college students and recent grads, found that in 2023, 41% of entry-level postings required three or more years of experience—up from 35% in 2021.
Employers say they’re just adapting to a fast-moving world. With tighter budgets and higher stakes, they want workers who can hit the ground running. "Companies don’t have the luxury of training from scratch anymore," says Kian McLoughlin, a 24-year-old tech worker who lucked into a role at Dell after a friend’s referral. "They’d rather hire someone who’s already done it than take a chance on a newbie."
The Experience Gap Hits Hard
This shift is toughest on those without connections or resources. Gen Zers from lower-income backgrounds, like Burakowski—whose parents run a small jewelry business—often lack the networks or unpaid internship opportunities that wealthier peers lean on. Career coaches see the fallout daily. Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, notes that employers now expect candidates to come pre-loaded with skills, whether from internships, side hustles, or even past jobs unrelated to the field. "The bar’s higher," she says. "Entry-level doesn’t mean what it used to."
For some, the solution is persistence—or pivoting. McLoughlin, who started with no tech experience, built a portfolio through online courses and landed his gig through grit and a lucky break. Others, like Burakowski, are still searching. She’s now eyeing medical assistant roles, hoping certifications might bypass the experience wall.
A Generation Left Waiting
The trend worries experts. Tony Carnevale, a Georgetown University researcher, warns that locking young people out of starter jobs could stunt their careers long-term. "If you don’t get that first foothold, you’re playing catch-up for years," he says. Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is already jittery about work—Handshake data shows 73% feel anxious about employment, outpacing older generations.
For now, younger workers are stuck in a bind: Employers want experience they can’t get without a job, and the jobs they can get don’t count as "real" experience. It’s a riddle with no easy answer, leaving many—like Burakowski—wondering when their shot will come. "I just want to start my life," she says. "But it feels like the system’s saying, ‘Not yet.’"