Posted on 01/15/2025 7:04:20 AM PST by MNDude
Gen Zers are increasingly becoming pet parents now that raising human babies feels like more of a pipe dream—and it’s propelling a job into the spotlight.
Veterinarians have struck gold, ranked at No. 1 on this year’s Best Jobs of 2025 report from Indeed. The study looks into which roles offer the highest salaries, sustained growth, and flexibility—and thanks to generous Gen Z pet parents who only want the best for their fur babies, veterinarians have made (and topped) the list of best gigs for the first time ever since data collection started in 2019.
Out of the 25 ranked positions, vets are also the most prevalent in the market, with 1,065 job postings per 1 million total jobs. Meanwhile, job shares increased 124% between 2021 and 2024.
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My wife and I both are Gen Xers, at the higher end of the age range, and we both knew we never wanted kids. Early on for me — before I even started high school. We were incredibly fortunate to finally find each other.
Our fur babies are awesome, and so is our life. We always chuckle at these threads, because we’re supposedly lonely, unhappy, child-like and more. It couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you are just learning that as an adult it is probably to late.
You need to learn ‘delayed satisfaction’ and sacrifice as a child to accomplish sacrifice as an adult.
I saw this failing of many parents when I was a parent.
Parents lived paycheck to paycheck so that their children would have the latest designer clothes.
Kids that grew up having everything they wanted expect to keep living that way as adults even if they can’t afford those things.
These young adults then run up huge debts to continue an unrealistic life style.
I love my dog very much. But I’m afraid he’ll be left without anyone to care for him some day when I’m jailed after I snap and brutally attack someone who uses that insufferable term “fur babies.” I’m a ticking time
Bomb
Biggest problem as I see it: Young people have this delusional expectation that they should have the same standard of living in their 20s that their parents have in their 50s.
Not surprised given a trip to the vet - my dog recently had two shots, took under 30 seconds - and the bill was $75 WITH a senior discount.
His flea meds have also skyrocketed to $160, double the price from two years ago.
There is a sign in my vets office that they are no longer taking new patients, they are so busy.
I think for some people it’s for attention..
About ten years ago I called a mobile groomer to come to the house as I couldn’t get to my regular groomer at that time, it was to be a one-off - no one in my neighborhood had ever seen one before and came over to ask the price, etc. Price = $$$.
Now I see mobile grooming vans all over the place so the business must be booming - I continued with mine b/c of the convenience.
I’m happy to hear this about you. Go get a box of wine and hug your fur babies tight and enjoy your life.
Use of that term is an indicator for mental illness.
I agree. And, on top of that, I also think there’s an unrealistic expectation that earning a degree — of any kind — will translate into a high-paying job right out of the gate. They should be taught they’ll have to work their way up the ladder, just like everyone else — professionally and financially.
We are the same.
One of the secrets of life is never let others decide what makes you happy.
Dogs make us happy.
Many people hate them.
To each their own.
There is no “correct” answer.
We did the same.
Can’t afford kids or won’t make the personal sacrifices required to have kids?
I did not imply they needed to learn the skill as an adult, the statement is that learning to sacrifice is part of becoming an adult, if you do not learn it you will not become an adult.
Other than that, I agree with what you wrote, going without or being frugal to feed and diaper kids - right, going without to buy designer clothes - wrong.
My wife is an absolute boss at shopping 2nd hand and consignment and kept the kids looking good, she still does it for our grandchildren.
Vets are pushing Pet Health Insurance so they can perform increasingly expensive (and profitable) diagnostic tests.
FYI, the only thing you are required to give your dog is a rabies shot. It is not just the Millennial's and Generation X not having human children. The big money is the Baby Boomers that now have Fur Babies to substitute for their children who have now left the house. It gives them someone to talk to and a reason to get out of bed. So, for older folks it is actually good for them mentally and physically.
The other factor is the Baby Boomers have more money to spend on their Fur Babies. Their houses are paid off. They do not have kids in college anymore. So, why not spend their money on a lap dog or cat that gives them unconditional love?
You can't take it with you. This is why toy dogs are so popular. This is why PETCO, PETSMART, Chewy and all the other pet food and pet products retailers are doing so well.
People are spending a lot more money on their pets than 50-60 years ago. When a cat was typically something that was GIVEN away as FREE KITTENS in the local paper.
Most people had dogs that were mutts. Again, given away most of the time. Even pure bred dogs were relatively inexpensive.
Now, I know people who sell puppies for over $3500. Some rare breeds can be well over $5000. I know dozens of people who sell puppies for over $2000. Even a “rescue” pup can cost you hundreds of dollars.
Then you need all the paraphernalia to go with it.
I know someone who sells RAW Dog food. It started out as a side business to help feed their own large breed dogs. Pretty soon they were building a walk in freezer adjacent to their garage that cost $28K. A year or so later there were expanding the freezer to hold more food. At some point it may become a full time job based on their revenue increases in the last two years.
I suppose this is why we can’t go in a grocery store, Walmart etc without seeing dogs in the buggy😄
Yes, all true. The husky I had decades ago when I was single got rabies shots and was fed a relatively inexpensive Purina dog chow, and a lice of bread and salami when I came home for lunch. He lived well into 16 years and was totally healthy.
I probably spent less on him in his lifetime than I do now in one vet visit for my current dog.
The vet was a private owner, he has since sold out to a corporate type vet practice.
No indeed. These kids are absolutely brainwashed with wokeness.
I know several couples like this. Money and family support to have children are not the issue. They instead would rather focus on their own fragility and self-care, and the supposed terrible state of the world.
That's the way I've always felt -- you have to find your own way in life. We like kids, we just never wanted any of our own. And, after babysitting for friends who've had kids later in life, we're more convinced than ever we made the right decision...
We're cat people, but we prefer the "dogs" of the cat world -- Maine Coons. Unbelievably cool animals. And wildlife. We spend many evenings on the porch watching our wild neighbors. ;-)
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