The Professionless Generation

In broader society, the meaning of a profession is profound. A profession serves as a sociological and anthropological label bestowed upon an individual by society. References to a profession are usually based on the origins of how one acquires specific skills. We recognise professions such as doctors, architects, masseuses, midwives, and even content creators. All these labels refer to specific skills possessed by an individual and serve a social function. Culturally, these labels signify a person’s position or expertise within the social structure. A profession attached to an individual holds not only cultural value but also economic value that determines well-being.

However, if we observe the reality of Gen Z today, the epistemological basis of their professions can sometimes no longer be traced. In popular terms, their work is no longer rooted in a single, clear, and standardised field of science. We frequently see law graduates becoming content creators, education graduates becoming affiliate marketers, engineering graduates becoming chefs in restaurants, or communication graduates becoming e-commerce administrators. Furthermore, a single individual may hold four to five jobs simultaneously. This phenomenon indicates that professional identity is beginning to dissolve. This is a consequence of the ‘liquid modernity’ proposed by Zygmunt Bauman—a condition that dissolves not only human relationships but also matters related to expertise. What can we conclude from the reality of this ‘professionless generation’? Firstly, we are witnessing the collapse of educational linearity.