Gen Z Women Face Rising Unemployment, Study Reveals Laziness Is Not the Cause
Jakarta — Young women from Generation Z now face fresh challenges in the global job market. Latest research shows that youth female unemployment has risen significantly in recent years, though this increase is not caused by laziness as is often assumed.
The findings were revealed in the Women in Work 2026 report released by professional services firm PwC in England. The study shows that Gen Z women aged 16 to 24 are finding it increasingly difficult to secure employment, particularly since the pandemic.
“Female unemployment rates increased from 3.5% in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024. This rise was triggered by an increasing number of young women who are not working, not pursuing education, and not participating in training,” the study report states.
This group is known by the acronym NEET (not in education, employment, or training). According to researchers, Gen Z women with low education levels and health problems have significantly higher risk of falling into the NEET category.
Indeed, their likelihood of becoming NEET could be four times greater than the average for other young women, at 48% compared to 12.2%. Additionally, technological change is widening the gap further. Many young women are considered to lack sufficient skills to keep pace with new technology developments, including artificial intelligence, which is beginning to replace numerous jobs previously dominated by women.
Lewis Maleh, CEO of global recruitment firm Bentley Lewis, stated that Gen Z women also face limited career pathways compared to men their age. He explained that young men who graduate with average grades still have numerous job options, such as in construction, logistics, or technical work, sectors currently in high demand for labour.
By contrast, women with comparable education levels tend to enter retail, care, or hospitality sectors.
“These sectors are actually shrinking and offer limited career development opportunities,” said Maleh.
According to him, the problem is not what young women lack, but rather the scarcity of career paths available to them. To improve job prospects, Maleh encourages young women to start developing skills in technology, particularly those related to artificial intelligence and robotics.
“Learn how to use AI tools correctly. Practical AI expertise does not require a degree, and companies desperately need it,” he said.
Additionally, internship and training programmes in the digital, green energy, and health technology sectors are still rarely pursued by young women, despite offering considerable opportunities. Maleh also advised young people not to wait passively for job opportunities.
“Candidates who successfully reach senior positions in the workplace are not always those with the best academic grades, but rather those with high curiosity, the ability to adapt, and those who actively build their portfolios and professional networks,” he concluded.