It's true that we should be looking out for job satisfaction- doing something we enjoy. But sometimes there are just bills to pay. You can only live so cheap, especially when modern society (marketing, financial structure, taxes) is geared toward entrapping everyone with debt.

I don't really think Millenials act any more entitled than previous generations (like mine), some of it is that the exceptions to the rule are too fun not to gossip about. And some of it is a shift in values.

I think you're right that the GDP and unemployment don't tell the whole story, but they do tell a big part of it. Going from not being able to pay the bills to being able to pay the bills results in a huge jump in happiness, just ask someone who's just lost everything. But it doesn't tell the whole story, stories like crippling debt, expenses related to the care of others, health problems, depression, etc.

I absolutely agree that Higher Education has become more of a burden than a boon. I think as the years go by HE will become less and less influential; at least in the coming decade. Who knows beyond that?

However, I don't agree that simply doing what you want will land you in happiness. Just look at everyone using Steemit to make money: if you plan to use Steemit to make money, you have to 1) deliver content people like, and 2) you have to market yourself. If you really love making good content, but hate the marketing, you will have a maximum you can make. If you love the marketing but can't deliver the content, the same- your success will be limited. Or, if you are good at both, but you love posting about politics, your voice may be overwhelmed by all the good political channels already running with thousands of subscribers and thousands in Steem Power.

But perhaps you love carpentry. You are very good at it, but you aren't great at salesmanship and marketing. So your masterpieces sit in your shop, or you may sell one every now and again at the local coop. You certainly can't make a living because most carpentry is automated, and the high-price custom jobs are not only rare, but require considerable non-carpentry business skills.

Long story short, just becoming a master at something you love doing isn't guaranteed to put food on the table. And yeah, if you think it should, then yeah, you suffer from entitlement.