Harder for Gen Z to build a good career which pays the bills?

[CalmAndCosy]

Mid-20s, satisfied and very grateful with life but very lost in my career. My question is, is it more difficult these days to start building a career you truly enjoy AND which pays you enough to live a good life?

Background: I dream of working in the arts but the cost of living crisis and state of the sector right now make this very difficult financially. I love working with children so thought about pursuing childcare or teaching - both quite creative and in-demand roles - but I've had rubbish experiences with some awful nanny agencies, and most of my friends who have trained as teachers regret doing so!
Tbh I could've done a law or engineering degree, but I wouldn't have been happy. And not necessarily financially viable either - some of my friends in the legal sector earn the equivalent of minimum wage.

So, is it harder these days to secure a career you love AND which also pays adequately?! Or has it always been like this?

Would appreciate any well-meaning advice!

YABU - No, it has always been this hard
YANBU - Yes, it is harder these days

If you're organised and good at writing there are loads of jobs you could do. Internship in marketing/pr/hr/events or general administration job and move around to work your way up. Most of the well paid jobs aren't advertised so you have a lot more scope to increase pay than first appears.

The good thing is there are loads of vacancies so firms will consider enthusiastic people with a different background.

Financial services or bigger companies generally pay more.

I've had two careers, one professional and then when that came to an end I retrained to learn another trade (linked to my lifelong hobby) and ran my own business doing that. I loved my working life.

You could try a few different careers & if you don't like them, try something else

If someone offers to training to the next level or a new opportunity take it

How will you know if you will enjoy something if you don't try it yourself ?

Your dream job is not going to suddenly appear. You need to put in some investigations, time, effort & possibly some training or change location

I've tried careers in a few different industries, and I've moved around a lot (lived in 4 different places in the last 5 years) I worry it makes my CV look a little sporadic!! Partly why I want to commit to one thing for some stability and to invest time and work into building a long term career. Am thinking of trying some internships this summer.

That sounds fabulous.

I think it is loads harder now for our generation than previously due to insane housing costs. I think you need to think pragmatically about what is important to you - I know personally I would have found corporate work soul destroying so I have poured years into a more fulfilling role which is still reasonably well paid. I appreciate that not everyone might have the resources to do that though and it has involved some luck!