Silicon Valley's graying workforce: Gen Z staff cut in half at tech companies as the average age goes up by 5 years

Gen Z worker is fired from company (Credit: skynesher / Getty Images)

• Gen Z was once promised that getting a job at a huge technology company like Meta, Microsoft, or Salesforce guaranteed six-figure success. But thanks to AI automation, they’re actively being boxed out of the industry, with the proportion of workers aged 21 to 25 being slashed in half at these massive public businesses. Plus, the average age of an employee at a tech company is rising. Experts tell Fortune this change may stifle innovation in the long-term—and there are still ways a Gen Z worker can get their foot in the door.

Gen Z are digital natives raised in the era of YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook; and now, they’re some of the strongest AI users in their personal and professional lives. But Silicon Valley tech companies looking to make waves with AI aren’t holding onto the digitally savvy generation—instead, they’re actively boxing them out.