Young Americans Less Optimistic About Job Market Than Older Adults

Young adults in the United States expressed lower levels of optimism about local job opportunities than older adults, according to a Gallup survey conducted last year. The poll found that 43% of Americans between the ages of 15 and 34 said it was a good time to find a job where they live.

That share marked a 12-point decline from the previous year and stood 21 points below the corresponding figure for adults aged 55 and older. In contrast, young adults in other OECD countries generally reported more positive views of the job market than their older counterparts.

Only five locations showed a similar pattern of younger adults being at least 10 points less optimistic than older adults.

The data comes from a Gallup poll taken before recent reports of job growth emerged. It remains unclear whether those developments have altered the perspectives of younger adults. The survey results were reported on May 11, 2026. The findings highlight a divergence from patterns observed in most other wealthy economies.