The job market for recent graduates has become increasingly dire, with many reporting months of searching without any responses from employers despite having degrees in high-demand fields such as computer science and engineering. The unemployment rate among recent graduates has been increasing, with an average of 5.3%, making it one of the toughest job markets since 2015.
According to data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, hiring in recent months has ground to its slowest pace since the start of the pandemic, with employers adding just 73,000 jobs in July. The number of longer-term unemployed people who have been out of work for more than 27 weeks increased last month by 179,000 to 1.8 million.
Economists attribute this trend to hesitation among employers to hire new workers amid wider economic uncertainty and the emergence of AI replacing certain entry-level jobs. Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst for Bankrate, said that recent college graduates will need to be more patient, diligent, and time-efficient in their job search due to this environment.
Recent graduates shared their frustrating experiences with job applications, with some reporting hundreds of applications and zero responses from employers. Adam Mitchell, 23, who graduated with a degree in computer science, applied for over 100 jobs and got only one job offer – for the 4 a.m. shift at Starbucks. Others, like Saida Lopez-Rosales, 26, an elementary school teacher, were able to secure a teaching job but are now facing a competitive local market.
The situation is particularly challenging for tech workers, with over 400 employers cutting jobs in 2025, according to tech job site TrueUp. Jaylah Dorman, 22, who landed a clinical research job shortly after graduating from Howard University, expressed concerns about the sweeping tax cut and spending bill that may limit graduate and professional program funding.
As the job market continues to evolve, recent graduates are forced to adapt and seek opportunities outside their original plans. For many, it’s a struggle to find employment while navigating rising living costs, student loan debt, and uncertainty about the future.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/job-market-report-college-student-graduates-ai-trump-tariffs-rcna221693