Agreed. Also, early job experience used to come as a 15yo bagging groceries or whatever. Put 20-somethings into a first job and they are way behind the curve, but increasingly that is the norm.
Exactly! I grew up working with my dad on the ranch and my mother in the house. My first paying job was fast food at 16. I was lucky because my first boss was a great boss and I learned so much about not just working but life. I earned very little money but when I was hired I was not worth very much to the business.
It is easy to blame the younger people but for years I have noticed many parents have the attitude that working low paying jobs is beneath their teens. They would rather have their children on video games or hanging out with friends. The plan is college for their children will solve the need for work when they are older. That is great but I think missing the work experience is damaging. Once they finish college with no work experience of any kind- most have zero work ethic and no job experience of any kind on their resume. That makes it tough for the young person and tough for employers.