College students across the United States are reporting increased anxiety regarding their economic and political futures, citing concerns about job prospects, housing affordability, and international conflict. Students at Michigan State University and other institutions describe a sense of disillusionment with a national political system they believe is failing to address these issues. While some are seeking careers abroad, others are turning toward anti-establishment political candidates who promise to disrupt the status quo.
This sentiment follows the 2024 election cycle, where economic concerns led 47% of young voters to support Donald Trump, according to AP VoteCast data. Since then, new factors including the Iran war and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) have contributed to a shifting political landscape. In Michigan, these anxieties have manifested in support for candidates like U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and activist Will Lawrence, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett.
Economists offer differing perspectives on the climate. Kevin Corinth of the American Enterprise Institute noted that while Generation Z is poised to be wealthier than previous generations, the path to success is less clear due to AI and delayed family formation. Conversely, economist Kathryn Edwards pointed out that unemployment for recent college graduates stands at 5.6%, which is higher than most periods outside of the Great Recession. High housing costs and rising prices for food and healthcare further complicate the transition to adulthood.
The concrete changes these individuals face include a digital job-hunting process increasingly populated by AI-powered or "fake" job listings, leading to what students describe as a difficult environment to discern real openings. These economic conditions have knock-on effects for national political institutions; an Associated Press-NORC poll found that younger Americans are now less likely to view voting as important and less concerned about threats to political violence or free speech than previous generations.
What happens next depends on the performance of candidates in upcoming regional and national contests. In Michigan, the campaign of Will Lawrence continues to target the swing district currently held by Rep. Tom Barrett. Universities, including Georgia Tech, have responded to rising stress levels by sharing mental health strategies and providing access to an asynchronous course like "Perspectives" to help students manage sociopolitical strain. Students facing graduation in the spring, such as those at Michigan State, continue to monitor job market trends and the impact of federal cuts on specific sectors like environmental work.