Something's brewing in the job market, and younger workers feel it most. Recent survey data reveals a striking stat: Americans between 18 and 34 now estimate roughly a one-in-three chance they'll lose their job within the next five years. That's a 33% probability weighing on minds.

What makes this number stand out? It's sitting near the second-highest level ever recorded. We're talking about a confidence crisis that rivals some of the darkest economic moments in recent history.

This kind of employment anxiety doesn't exist in a vacuum. When younger demographics—typically the most optimistic about career prospects—start bracing for layoffs, it signals deeper concerns about economic stability. For crypto markets and risk assets, consumer confidence and job security are leading indicators that often precede shifts in investment behavior. Nervous workers tend to be cautious investors.

Keep an eye on labor market sentiment. It might tell us more about where capital flows next than any Fed statement.