For two decades, the American dream seemed to be concentrated in one place in the United States: Silicon Valley. Many ambitious young hopefuls dreamed of a very clear image: state-of-the-art offices, six-figure salaries, ping pong tables in every corner, and the promise of being able to “change the world” with programming code. Millennials aspired to work in Silicon Valley, and it was only natural that the next generations would end up doing the same. However, just as Gen X aspired to work for a prestigious magazine or newspaper, Gen Z aspires to something very different.
The American dream/career has changed dramatically. Gen Z is already turning its back on the big tech companies. It’s not out of spite, but because they know they won’t find work in that sector; labor intelligence has reduced the human need in that field to a handful of ultra-specialized roles. Humans are no longer in charge of the tech sector; instead, the reins are held by a few who ride in a horse-drawn carriage powered by artificial intelligence. Younger generations must therefore gravitate toward other sectors of employment.
AI vs. Young Americans
And it is ironic that the most digitally connected generation in history is turning its back on the tech giants. They are the first digitally native generation, but they are not looking for their future in a tech startup, but in the corridors of hospitals.
This generation does not see AI as the future of technology (which it is), but as the main factor of job instability in the US market. It seems that no one’s job is safe if the following week it can be replaced by an algorithm that automates everything you were doing manually and more slowly. This is why the younger generations are moving en masse into fields such as healthcare —which are human-proof. The new status symbol is not a job as a software engineer, but one that guarantees long-term employment.
Anxiety about job security
Gen Z is the first generation to enter the job market knowing for sure that their job could be automated at any moment. The mass layoffs that shook the tech giants between 2022 and 2024 are proof of this. Gen Z isn’t being paranoid; they’re seeing a palpable reality unfolding before their eyes. These layoffs at large companies, Google, Meta, and IBM. That job at Google or Amazon that Millennials dreamed of is no longer a safe haven.
Faced with such a volatile landscape, young people have adjusted their life strategies; 43% of Generation Z admit to having changed their career plans due to concerns about life and AI automation in the coming years. Generation Z has grown up amid economic crises such as the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. They have never had time to dream, but are guided solely by pragmatism in the face of innovation at all costs.
76% of Generation Z prioritizes professional stability over traditionally valued factors such as corporate reputation or even a high salary. This is where the healthcare sector comes into its own. Young people see hospitals and healthcare institutions as “safe” environments. The fact is that direct care for people still requires human skills that cannot be replaced. Although there are AI programs that can detect skin melanomas, a healthcare professional will always be much more efficient than any type of machine.
Other factors, such as the aging population and chronic staff shortages, show that the healthcare sector has a guaranteed demand for professionals. There will always be almost guaranteed jobs in hospitals and clinics.
On the other hand, the culture of burnout and the sense of meaninglessness in the technology sector contrasts sharply with the tangible social contribution offered by healthcare and social services. In the technology sector, many people wonder if what they are doing is remotely useful. Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, and all types of healthcare personnel can see that their work helps their community and their patients. This type of work provides greater personal satisfaction, even if it means a lower salary. Generation Z is human, and wants a job that improves their personal life and the lives of others.