Career Shifting is the New Normal: 5 Options to Own Your Next Chapter

Doomscrolling on LinkedIn while sipping an oat milk latte.

Let’s face it: the 2025 job market is a total beast for Gen X Millennials. Layoffs are rolling through like a tech update nobody asked for, and up to 57% of us are actively plotting that career switch—whether it’s by choice or necessity. If you’ve found yourself doomscrolling LinkedIn while sipping your oat milk latte, you’re definitely not alone. There’s a big vibe shift out there, and it’s time to get real about what’s happening, why the grass might actually be greener elsewhere, and the smart moves to make if you want to thrive in the new ecosystem.

Big Shifts and Why They’re Happening

The “Great Flattening.” In 2025, layoffs surged dramatically, especially targeting middle management and mid-career professionals. Companies are aggressively flattening hierarchies and cutting payroll, with layoffs for 40-somethings increasing by 400% since 2022. Nearly one in four laid-off Gen X workers remains unemployed, while others have reluctantly accepted pay cuts just to stay employed.

Quiet Quitting. Alongside these layoffs, career dissatisfaction is rampant. Only 14% of U.S. workers report being truly happy in their jobs, and two-thirds say their work-life balance is poor. Millennials are particularly frustrated by ineffective management and limited advancement opportunities, while Gen X feels the strain of financial stress and the impact of age bias in hiring.

It’s the Economy, Stupid. Economic pressures add another layer of challenge. Inflation continues to outpace wage growth, making the cost of living feel heavier and job security scarcer. This economic squeeze is pushing many workers to reconsider their careers—even if it means making bold changes.

Post-Pandemic Purpose. At the same time, the pandemic has permanently reset expectations around work. Flexibility, remote opportunities, and meaningful, well-balanced work environments are no longer perks but essentials that workers prioritize.

According to career experts, if you’re impacted by the shifts, here are five options to consider to own your next chapter.

1. Find a Better Work Environment (Without Detonating Your Career)

Take Hilary, 53, who rode out two layoffs in two years and now feels like she'll be "working forever.” "I should be retiring in 12 years, and there's no way that's going to happen," she said. Instead of taking the next job thrown her way, Hilary started scoping out companies where remote work wasn’t just tolerated, but celebrated—with Zoom team coffee syncs and four-day workweeks. She's now part of a small team where showing up for Monday meetings in a hoodie is standard, and nobody bats an eye if she logs in from her cabin in Maine. Sometimes, the best career shift is about finding your tribe and skipping toxic management for a culture that vibes with your real life.

2. Shift Into High-Opportunity Sectors

After his marketing agency let him go during the “Great Flattening,” Mark, 45, knew he had to pivot. He powered through a six-week bootcamp in data analytics and landed a gig as an ops manager for a clean-tech start-up. Now he’s running point on solar installs, barely recognizing his spreadsheet-averse former self. The move wasn’t just for the cash (although, let’s be honest, it helps); he wanted to be somewhere with future upside and actual meaning. Healthcare, tech, green energy, and social media management are where it’s at—especially if you want job security and room to level up.

One of the hottest shifts in 2025 is the AI upskill rush, as tech continues to disrupt almost every industry. Research shows that between 2025 and 2030, AI is projected to displace 85 million jobs globally but simultaneously create 97 million new jobs—resulting in a net gain of 12 million jobs worldwide. More mid-career pros are leveraging short-term bootcamps, online certifications, and even YouTube crash courses to move into roles like AI project management, prompt engineering, or building AI-powered products. Take the story of Luis, a Millennial ops leader: After his department was restructured, he signed up for a two-month generative AI bootcamp and landed a new gig as a prompt engineer for a marketing tech firm, where he's now training both humans and bots on smarter campaign automation. The momentum in AI has it pulling in people from diverse fields—data analysts, marketers, designers—making upskilling essential for those wanting to future-proof their careers.

In 2025, skilled trades like electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, welding, landscaping, and construction management are booming as resilient, automation-proof careers. Take Elizabeth, 43, who went from startup tech to landscaping and permaculture. These hands-on jobs offer higher wages, strong job security, and growth opportunities fueled by infrastructure demand, retirements, and green energy projects. This surge attracts many Gen X Millennials seeking stable, future-proof careers outside of corporate layoffs and tech disruption.

3. Add a Side Hustle

If you’re like Evelyn, 39 and knee-deep in shifting bills with inflation breathing down your neck, don’t sleep on the side hustle. Evelyn turned her knack for Instagram into a late-night social media consulting gig—managing memes and growth hacks for indie brands while still working her day job. Sometimes it’s gig work to keep the lights on; sometimes, it’s passion projects that snowball into legit businesses. The playbook: start small, automate what you can (AI is your friend here; use tools for bookkeeping and outreach), and keep flexing that hustle muscle until you’re stacking income streams like a true Millennial multitasker.

4. Move From Employee to Entrepreneur—Fractional Execs, Franchises, and Founders

Making the jump from employee to entrepreneur is shaping up as one of the boldest and most rewarding moves for Gen X Millennials in 2025. Take Tara, a former corporate COO who found herself cut loose during recent layoffs. Rather than returning to the grind, she carved out a new path as a fractional executive, balancing three SaaS startups at once. Tara’s pivot gave her not just income and professional status—but way more freedom and control over her schedule, along with the chance to be present for her family and finally ditch the office politics for good.

Another inspiring example comes from the franchise world: Kari Carlson moved from employee trainer to franchise owner at a 9Round gym. After mastering the daily operations and building her confidence on the job, Kari invested in her own franchise and now runs a thriving business. Her story proves that hands-on experience and grit can pay off big, especially for those willing to learn and take calculated risks.

Meanwhile, a “zoom out” reveals just how hot the founder scene is for professionals in their 40s and 50s. It’s no longer just about Silicon Valley twentysomethings; today, 59% of startup founders are over 40, and those in their 50s now make up a significant slice of founder success stories. Mid-career entrepreneurs are actually up to three times more likely to build high-growth companies than their younger peers.

I experienced this firsthand—after a corporate exec run, I transitioned into fractional CMO work, then took the leap as a fintech founder at Richuel. For those seeking independence, creative control, and a new kind of career satisfaction, there’s no better time to start something of your own.

5. Stay Networked and Adaptive

Gen Xers like Andy, 50, swear by the power of a well-timed coffee chat. After losing his job in the hospitality industry, Andy jumped on every virtual mixer, LinkedIn group, and Slack community he could find. Following three months of networking, he scored an ops role at a burgeoning ed-tech company—proof that most jobs are in the hidden market. Your next move is likely one DM away. Keep your network fresh, keep your skill stack sharper, and remember: the strongest will is the will that bends, not breaks.

Wrapping Up

Gen X Millennials, this isn’t our parents’ job market, and that’s a good thing. If you’re staring down a layoff or dreaming of greener pastures, it’s time to play offense. The opportunities are real—you just need to bring your resilience, connect with others riding out the same storm, and don’t be afraid to remix your career with a little entrepreneurial flair. The hustle is alive, the market’s wild, and there’s no better moment than now to hit that pivot and own your next chapter.

_______________________________________________________________

Richuel is an AI-powered digital financial health platform dedicated to helping people navigate career and life shifts with better financial decision support. People often think finance is difficult and time-consuming. With the help of better digital experiences and hybrid AI technology, plus easy and affordable access to human expert support, we’re changing that one daily financial “richuel” at a time.

Sign up for our early access list, free for a limited time at https://www.richuel.com/.