Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell highlighted the widening gap for young workers in a labor market characterized by low hiring and limited job separation, cautioning those without technology skills are increasingly marginalized. Concurrently, research reveals young workers face pervasive age-based discrimination, known as 'youngism,' which undermines job readiness perceptions and shrinks entry-level opportunities, especially outside tech sectors. With AI accelerating workforce transformation, white-collar jobs face risk of automation, while many youth struggle to secure roles, a trend exacerbated by systemic biases and evolving hiring practices.