I'm not talking about starter jobs flipping burgers and the likes. I'm talking about lifetime earning perspectives and permanently dampened careers, which has been proven to be significantly lower for those graduating in an economic downturn [1]. And hell, it's basic math. If you get 5% raises each year, and you start from 20k, you'll be at a markedly lower end after 20 years than if you entered at 30k.

> Housing is expensive, yes. The idea of having roommates to split the bills is unfathomable though.

Having to have roommates to make rent while working full time is a sign of a failed housing market. It used to be the case in the 90s that a man by the age of 25-30 could own a house, a car for himself, a car for their spouse, said spouse not working, and two kids on a single middle-class income. This hasn't been possible for the last twenty years.

> If anything, the kids get disillusioned by the prospect of work itself. Why bother when some annoying loudmouth is showing off his mansions and exotic cars he bought with money he earned being annoying on YouTube? Anything short of being a professional influencer is unacceptable.

Prominent idiots flashing their wealth in an annoying way has been a thing long before influencers.

Young people just don't want to work anymore for shit wages in 60+ hour bullshit jobs while the profit stays at the employer. Offer them actually attractive work conditions (instead of fruit baskets) and meaningful work and they will come and work.

[1] https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/recessi...