There are already signs that the oldest Gen Zers have been particularly hard hit in the early weeks and months of the coronavirus crisis.
Instead of looking ahead to a world of opportunities, Gen Z now peers into an uncertain future. That has all changed now, as COVID-19 has reshaped the country’s social, political and economic landscape. Unlike the Millennials – who came of age during the Great Recession – this new generation was in line to inherit a strong economy with record-low unemployment. And their political clout will continue to grow steadily in the coming years, as more and more of them reach voting age. Born after 1996, most members of this generation are not yet old enough to vote, but as the oldest among them turn 23 this year, roughly 24 million will have the opportunity to cast a ballot in November. One-in-ten eligible voters in the 2020 electorate will be part of a new generation of Americans – Generation Z.
