The old system has failed Gen Z. We have to listen to them for a change

This is the crossroads where generation Z is located, having become major through an era of technological progress and general tumult in social, political and economic landscapes.

Meanwhile, the economy of concerts, including independent consultants, freelancers, creators, entrepreneurs and more, found a critical mass. Far from being considered the “alternative” career path that it was once, according to certain estimates, half of all workers in developed countries will be Gig workers by 2027.

Although this passage from 9 to 5 is not always glamorous, it exploits what the culture of young people has always adopted: independence and disorderly transitions. Unable to wait for stability, Gen Z takes the reins and shapes a new economy according to his own conditions.

What stimulates Gen Z’s new economy?

In other words, the university has not continued. Traditional education no longer guarantees career stability; Half of job seekers Gen Z consider their diplomas as a waste of time, and 44% of young professionals say they were not equipped with good skills to succeed. And now, with university degrees, they are just as likely to be unemployed as those who have never left.

The impact of this trend is already obvious, with first -year registrations of the first year of more than 5% in annual sliding in the fall of 2024 – the greatest drop since 2020, the height of the COVVI -19 pandemic.

The reduction in companies’ costs and the rapid expansion of AI also force generation Z to new economic models. Releases abound in all industries formerly considered to be balls by young job seekers – from the bank and technology to marketing services. And more and more, young employment candidates are fighting not only with each other, but with the agents and robots of AI: according to a survey, 37% of managers prefer to hire AI to graduates of generation Z. While the company devalues work, it seems that many companies prefer to invest in an LLM or BSA.

However, it is not only the external forces; The own values of generation Z also shape this future in concert. Unlike previous generations, generation Z builds identity around passions, not demographic data or traditional ideologies – with 81% saying that they prefer to be defined by their interests on labels such as age or sex. And although these passions vary considerably around the world, they have one thing in common: Creativity is not negotiable.

For generation Z, creativity and self-expression are not only hobbies; These are fundamental attributes of daily life, and more and more the ability to earn a living. Today, 89% of generation Z already consider creators, blurring the border between the consumer and the contributor. It is a generation that considers themselves as manufacturers from a young age. Although they cannot control economic and technological forces shaping their world, Gen Z is working to transform this disturbance into a path of independence.

The class of creators increasing and how the Z generation rewrites work

During a fast clip, we see the Gen Zers jumping the increase in the cost of traditional education and rather choose to invest in themselves. We have seen young people launching innovative content studios to help creators to connect more easily with brands, to stand in the markets for concert workers in order to train each other and produce digital products such as design models, music samples or online courses that sell during their sleep.

Even companies that have failed are considered valid. Many young people prefer to invest in themselves, strengthening practical skills that help them keep alone, rather than spending four years in a program that can already be exceeded.

Although shaping it for it is not a new concept, the pure and simple reengineering of the “track at the start of the standard career” is. Today, the concert economy increases three times faster than traditional workforce. And with creators, influencers, independent entrepreneurs and part -time consultants, every under 30 years in the world, generation Z is the dominant force in this new economy.

Ironically, the same technology allowing large companies to reduce their workforce and replace entry-level talents with a generative AI and other tools simultaneously empowering the class of emerging creators. These tools allow young people to produce better quality work, bringing them closer to their passions and the ability to win these passions is more feasible than ever.

It is a strange turn of fate so that Gen Z is both more independent in a creative way, capable of connecting and gaining their own conditions, but unable to find traditional work in “business economy”. With this in mind, despite some of the critical blows of the Z generation, the early development of personal brands and creative skills has become the only real gap around a broken career scale.

These disturbances have a deep opportunity for courageous marks: Help the generation to prosper, not only survive in the booming economy of concerts.

The concert economy is not without its drawbacks. Revenues can swing wildly from month to month and traditional advantages such as health care and paid holidays are rarely part of the package. Many young workers find themselves on several platforms just to reconstruct a life, and in some cases, run out before they touch their stride.

Subsequently, over the next three years, demand will increase in innovative learning and development formats to fill the difference in increasing skills and fuel the concert economy, giving brands a generational opportunity to connect with young people. By creating tools and programs that support Gen Z’s development in this new border, brands can engage with generation Z creators and potential employees.

When it comes to hiring potential employees, the most intelligent brands are involved, not with budget cuts or “learning cultures” waves, but with real tools: from subsidized implementation to flexible development tracks and support for passionate projects and even lateral bustles. Interestingly, General Zers is trying more and more to fill their own difference in skills outside the class, 62% want to be more trained at AI.

To help creators prosper, brands must invest in what really feeds Gen Z’s success: access to premium tools, community connection and continuous development development. In 2025, the content of creators should exceed traditional media in global advertising revenues for the first time, a clear signal that it is time to treat creators not as megaphones, but as strategic partners in the narration and growth of the brand.

The future of the Z -of -generation economy

The cultural and commercial influence of generation Z is well documented, but their career scale is a work in progress. The form of modern careers quickly transforms due to macroeconomic forces and because the young people themselves forge individual activities and directional life decisions in their own terms. This is the thing about the culture of young people: it has always been a rich source of intellectual and emotional depth. But now, the collision of the creative ambition of generation Z with the rise of AI has made it impossible to ignore.

In the end, Gen Z advances in this new economy with self -determination. The companies that collaborate with, rather than replacing, the Z generation are not content to save their workforce, they will unlock daring ideas and partnerships of a wired generation to modify the rules.

The opinions expressed in the Fortune.com comments are only the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.