Gen Z Uses AI Daily But Thinks It's Bad for Society — What That Means for Your Job Search

A 2026 survey of 11,443 Gen Z students by the National Society of High School Scholars found that AI use has become nearly universal — only 6% report not using it at all, down from 36% in 2024 — even as 69% say AI will have more negative than positive impacts on society. That tension matters if you're job hunting: 55% of respondents now use AI instead of search engines to research careers and colleges, so employers and schools that don't show up in AI-generated results are already losing Gen Z's attention. On the job front, this cohort is putting salary last (49%) and health benefits first (72%), with flexible schedules and fair treatment of employees ranking higher than pay or location — and more than half expect to leave their first job within two years. If you're planning your post-graduation path, know that 79% of your peers expect a job secured before or within six months of graduation, and scholarships are the #1 way this group is funding college (49%), so financial aid applications should be your immediate priority.