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The college-age generation is grappling with inflation, increasing housing prices, climate change, and now mass corporate layoffs. In a world where geopolitical turmoil is increasing, the ground beneath their feet is shifting. Many believe their future is bleak.
My nephew, Joey, just got married. His wife lives with her parents, and he lives with his. While he makes good money as a pharmacy manager at a national chain drugstore, neither he nor his wife can afford even a down payment on a house in Long Island. They are moving in with the wife’s parents. Joey’s sister is also married with two children. They also live with their parents. Welcome to the American dream turned nightmare for almost 70 million young Americans.
The typical age range of Gen Z is 1997 to 2012. They are the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. They are the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in America, with 48% being non-white.
Almost all of this generation is highly active on social media. Almost 60% are planning to pursue a college education. They are just as likely to identify as Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. As such, the present populist upheaval the U.S. is undergoing takes an inordinate toll on them. It may be why 91% of Gen Zers report experiencing symptoms of stress and anxiety.
While Wall Street opened the year celebrating the promise of a bright future, thanks to AI. Opinion leaders predict that artificial intelligence, robots, and space, among other technological breakthroughs, will dramatically reshape the way the world works. For college grads, all they see is a no-fire, no-hire labor market where unemployment among workers ages 20 to 24 continues to rise. It is now to 5.3% and even worse for those younger than that.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers predict the entry-level hiring crisis will worsen this year, rating job prospects as poor or at best fair. At a recent gathering of employers at the Yale School of Management, 66% admitted they planned to cut jobs or freeze hiring.
With an economy that is expected to grow by 3% in 2026, one would have expected the opposite reaction, but then you would not be reckoning with the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market. Potential employers are concerned and uncertain about how AI might reshape the workforce over the next few years, and rightfully so.
Most analysts believe that many white-collar positions, especially at the entry level, will be replaced by technological advancement. Underscoring that concern, many corporate giants, including Amazon, UPS, Target, and Google, announced layoffs affecting more than 60,000 jobs. And to many, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Faced with taking fast-food jobs at minimum wage and lacking work experience in their hoped-for professions, 3 in 5 Gen Z workers are looking elsewhere for a job with some kind of reasonable future. Almost half of these young workers believe the blue-collar jobs may offer better long-term security than corporate work in the technology fields. The top sectors pursued by Gen Z include plumbing, automotive repair, construction, and electrical work.
I happen to agree with that belief, but unfortunately, Gen Z applicants face the same barrier to entry in their white-collar arena—lack of experience. Many job applicants, regardless of industry, are now required to have at least 3 years of experience and up to 5 years before being considered.
The lure of six-figure salaries in the blue-collar area is attracting more Gen Zs to vocational schools. However, what many conveniently forget is that earning that kind of take-home pay requires years of experience, a substantial investment in personal tools and equipment, and serious wear and tear on the body.
As I write this, in the next room, a 65-year-old builder I’ll call Scott, who is going in for his second knee replacement next month, is building another room in our condo. Assisting him is a young GenZer. There is a constant stream of chatter as Scott talks through his drywalling process. His helper listens intently. They seem eager to learn and ask questions as they work. He did the same when he placed the struts and erected the wall.
For several years, Scott has been involved in a local high school program that teaches vocational school grads his business, while they gain on-the-job experience and a paycheck. Scott and others like him are providing a solution one day at a time. He is one answer to the dilemma facing this struggling generation. This country needs more Scotts to hire and teach a young workforce in need.
Next week, I will highlight one area where many Gen Xers have found an alternative to home ownership. It holds risks but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to get involved.
Bill Schmick is a founding partner of Onota Partners, Inc., in the Berkshires.Bill’s forecasts and opinions are purely his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Onota Partners, Inc. (OPI).
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Caroline Farr-Killmer wears her hunting bibs after being inducted into the historic Rounders’ Hunting Club in November 2025, becoming the first woman to join the club since it was founded by World War II veterans in 1954.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — A lot has changed for Caroline Farr-Killmer over the last two decades, but the smell of campfire smoke and the familiar bark of an old blue alarm clock have stood the test of time at the hunting grounds of the historic Rounders club, a place that has served as a second home for her family for generations.
In November 2025, Farr-Killmer, 25, became the first adult woman to be unanimously voted into the hunting club, a group that’s known as much for its camaraderie and history as its dedication to safety, respect and the outdoors.
Founded in 1954 by WWII veterans, the group — originally named the Rounders of Riga — began as six men who wanted to step away from civilian life and gather around a shared love of hunting. Longtime member Larry Conklin has referred to the group as the “real-deal Band of Brothers,” which has expanded to include vetted family members and friends over time. Farr-Killmer is its newest member.
Today, the Rounders club is comprised of 10 adult members, along with several junior members.
Though she is defying gender stereotypes, Farr-Killmer approaches the milestone with gratitude, viewing it as a chance to learn from a community that has always felt like home.
During hunting season, which takes place between November and early winter, members take turns doing chores, which can include constructing the 16 x 32 military tent or preparing meals like venison tacos.
“I am grateful and excited,” Farr-Killmer said, adding that she appreciates the vote of confidence from the Rounders. “I think it will be fun to bring a female presence into the hunting world, especially as it is such a male-dominated sport.”
While a number of female junior members currently exist, Farr-Killmer hopes that her hands-on involvement will pave the way for other women to join in the future.
Farr-Killmer’s connection to the Rounders spans generations. Her grandfather, Bryant Killmer, was the first family member to join the Rounders in the 1990s and remained an active member until his death in 2020.
“As a kid, I would look forward to all the stories from the older gentlemen who had lived such interesting lives — many of whom were veterans,” Farr-Killmer said.
Today, she carries on her family’s legacy with her brother, a junior member, and her father.
“My family is excited, but especially my dad, Ray,” she said.
Ray Killmer — who taught her the culture, tactics and lifestyle — said he is proud of her.
“I look forward to the legacy being carried on,” he said.
When she received the official welcome into the club, Farr-Killmer said she was “ecstatic.” Though she has been attending camp since childhood for its social traditions, she has only been hunting for several years.
Induction into the Rounders marks another achievement for Farr-Killmer, who has been heading up the demolition and reconstruction of Millerton’s water department building since a fire destroyed it and all the equipment inside last year.
“I want to send the message that you can do what you set your mind to,” she said. “I think it is great that times have evolved and this sport has become one that is much more inclusive.”
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The North East Community Center’s Early Learning Program shuttered abruptly last December after nonprofit leadership announced that significant financial strain required the program’s termination. NECC Executive Director Christine Sergent said the organization remains open to reconsidering childcare in the future.
Photo by Nathan miller
Dutchess County is one of three counties selected to receive significant state funding as part of a new childcare pilot program announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week — an initiative that could expand childcare options in rural communities like Millerton.
The announcement follows Hochul’s State of the State address in which she proposed a landmark $4.5 billion investment toward universal childcare in New York. Hochul visited a childcare center in Queens on Thursday, Jan. 15, to outline her vision for the rollout of the pilot program, which would include a total of $60 million in state funding, along with additional funding from each of the three counties — Dutchess, Monroe and Broome — with a particular focus on serving newborns to three-year-olds.
“When we invest in our kids, we’re investing not just in their future, but the future of our state,” Hochul said. She called her plan aggressive, bold and ambitious with a focus on access and cost.
While the proposal must still be approved by the State Legislature as part of the 2026 budget process, Dutchess County’s Department of Community and Family Services is expected to work with the state on developing ideas to address Dutchess-specific needs. The state budget is due April 1.
Filling a local gap
The pilot would support community-based programming, a move that could fill the gap left in Millerton by the recent abrupt closure of North East Community Center’s Early Learning Program (ELP).
NECC officially closed the program on Dec. 19, 2025, after determining that the financial burden of operating a daycare had become unsustainable. The decision followed months of quiet internal deliberation and came as a shock to families and staff. NECC leadership cited rising operating costs, declining enrollment and the loss of grant funding as driving factors in the closure.
Christine Sergent, Executive Director of NECC, said the organization remains open to reconsidering childcare in the future, though no timeline has been announced.
“We are monitoring the governor’s actions as they clearly relate to the needs of the people we serve,” Sergent said. She added that she is hopeful that potential state resources could eventually bring more childcare options back to Millerton and surrounding communities, whether before or after NECC moves to a new facility.
Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago, D-District-19, said the closure of the ELP has intensified the childcare challenges in the region. Drago, who had been working to raise awareness about the issue even before the pilot program was announced, said cuts to federal funding will be felt in rural Dutchess County.
“Childcare is a must-have,” Drago said. “Families need childcare if they’re going to work, and this is something we need to be fighting for.”
While he said Hochul’s proposal is a step in the right direction, Drago described the funding as a “drop in the bucket.” He hopes to organize a public forum to discuss the issue and better inform state representatives about the urgent childcare needs in northern Dutchess County.
Still, the news signals hope for local parents like Kim Yarnell, whose family was affected by the ELP closure.
“As a parent, I have struggled for years trying to source reliable and affordable care for my kids just so I could go to work,” Yarnell said, adding that she is thrilled about the pilot program.
Yarnell said it will be crucial that those overseeing the pilot rollout involve parent advocates upfront as part of the process to ensure that funding and support are allocated to not just county-run childcare facilities, but also private and in-home care – especially in rural communities like Millerton.
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