Why is Gen Z having such a hard time?

I think it's all of those things.

But yeah, I think if the cost of living is high and young people feel like we can't achieve what our parents achieved the other stuff is going to be a problem too.

For many decades, it was kind of a given that kids were going to be better off than their parents, at least on average. That just isn't true anymore.

All the things you mention are out of whack when compared to say...the early 80's or 90's. Housing is ridiculous. But then so is the cost of food. It's tough for a young couple to go comfortably and spend easily $150-$200 for an upscale dinner and a nice bottle of wine.

Many have college debt to contend with. And the work ethic just "ain't what it used to be". I worked 3 jobs in my early 20's to get ahead. Are most Gen Z folks willing to make that sacrifice? If not, the though of actually "making it" I would image would be difficult.

Well the younger I imagine don't know what a low pay job really means. U don't work a lot of hour's and u don't make a lot of money with these job. People older then me are not suppose to work these jobs. But these day's they are working these type of jobs

The current economy is very different from when you and I were starting out in the labor force. We bought a house or condo ASAP because we knew it would accumulate value. Gen Z literally can't.

Housing prices and rental rates have soared, making it more difficult for Gen Z to purchase homes or afford rent. For example, the median home sales price in 1973 was $37,202 (adjusted for 2023 inflation), while in 2023 it was $410,000

Generation Z has roughly 72% less purchasing power than baby boomers did in their 20s.

Source: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/comparing-the-costs-of-generations.html

American workers have steadily increased their productivity, but their pay (real wages means corrected for inflation) stopped growing around 1980.

I think one big problem is the obsession with college. Young people are taking on debt and finding the employment curve is too steep early on. Trades with high wages and military service are often not given proper consideration.

They are not the mentally toughest group on the planet ..