Millennials have peaked — now they’re having their ‘is this it?’ moment

The 25th anniversary of the Strokes' album "Is This It" has coincided with a notable moment for millennials, according to Glassdoor senior economist Chris Martin. In his latest Millennial Report, Martin suggests that millennials, now firmly in their mid-career, are experiencing an "is this it?" moment. Their earnings have largely peaked and growth is expected to match inflation in the future.

Martin, who has been listening to the Strokes, likens this to the band's lead singer Julian Casablancas' attitude during a 2011 interview. The report reveals that millennials now make up 33% of the U.S. labor force and hold nearly half of management roles. However, they are also expressing high levels of career uncertainty, with 76% questioning their career path and 68% delaying major life milestones due to job insecurity.

Burnout mentions in Glassdoor reviews are 44% higher among millennials compared to other generations, and job insecurity language is up 47%. Martin argues that millennials are hitting classic career and family milestones later than expected, which contributes to their sense of uncertainty. Despite the challenges, Martin suggests that millennials could "stability stack" by layering skills, options, income, and networks to mitigate the risks of career disruptions.