The cost of job hunting is soaring, with searches now averaging 24 weeks — nearly a month longer than last year. Desperate for an edge, candidates are spending thousands of dollars on coaching, AI tools, and networking. A 28-year-old former audio technician, for example, has spent over $19,000 on LinkedIn Premium, AI résumé tools, certifications, a... See more

Things are even more dire in China, where youth unemployment sits at 14.5% and Gen Z job-seekers are paying 30 to 50 yuan a day ($4–$7) to sit in faux offices run by “Pretend to Work Company.” These spaces offer computers, snacks, and community for jobless graduates trying to apply for roles or simply pass the time. The trend sits alongside the “ra... See more

A viral tweet showing a small basket of groceries and the caption “One day you’ll be buying groceries to cook dinner in the small apartment you rent” sparked debate over how Gen Z is romanticizing basic survival costs. Many saw it as proof that “we’ve literally reached an economic point of no return,” with users noting that “surviving basic life ex... See more