What happens when young people step into the workforce and find only closed doors—too little experience, too few opportunities, and too many barriers outside their control? Is Gen Z really “unmotivated,” or is the system failing to connect them to the future of work?
In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Steve Preston, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, to explore what it takes to close the opportunity gap. Together, they unpack why youth unemployment is 2.5 times higher than average, why nearly half of young job seekers feel locked out due to lack of experience or skills, and what it would take for employers to tap into overlooked talent pools. They dive into the widening divide between high-skill and low-skill work, the promise of new pathways like Goodwill’s AI Essentials training with Google, and the potential of green jobs as an engine for upward mobility.
From career navigation and wraparound support to second-chance hiring and skill-based pathways, Steve shares both the urgency and the optimism of reimagining workforce readiness. And he offers a hopeful vision: a future where the economy doesn’t leave people behind, but opens more doors for everyone to participate and thrive.
If you’ve ever wondered what it will take to make the future of work work for all—not just the few—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Guest Information:
As president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International (GII), Steven C. Preston leads a federation of 151 local Goodwill® organizations in the U.S. and Canada with a combined revenue of $8.6 billion. Goodwill is the leading nonprofit provider of workforce training and development in North America and a leader in the secondhand retail market. It is the mission of Goodwill to ensure that every person in our communities has the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential in life.
Links:
Chapters:
00:00 — Why Gen Z Can’t Find Jobs
01:24 — Barriers to Entry Without a College Degree
03:10 — What Digital Skills Do Workers Really Need?
05:14 — Green Jobs and Trade Skills at Goodwill
07:18 — Why Training Pathways Are Hard to Access
09:17 — How Employers Can Tap Untapped Talent Pools
10:53 — Rethinking Hiring for Skills and Potential
14:45 — How AI Is Changing Entry-Level Jobs
17:06 — What Colleges Need to Teach for an AI World
18:54 — Can AI Bridge the Skills Gap?
20:46 — How AI Tools Can Support Workers
22:48 — Breaking Barriers in the New World of Work
24:00 — Steve Preston’s Magic Wand for Workforce Access
25:31 — How Do We Make the Future of Work Work for Everyone?
