A recent college graduate, Solomon Jones, faces an uncertain future as he navigates the high unemployment rate among young adults. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in sports communication with a minor in psychology this May, but is still looking for a full-time job.
As of March, 5.8% of recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 were unemployed, the highest it has been since 2013. The hiring slowdown across the economy, coupled with tariff uncertainty and early effects of AI adoption, are contributing factors to this trend.
Jones started his higher education journey in 2017, initially pursuing an education major before switching to liberal arts. He took a non-traditional route, working as a substitute teacher, teacher’s aide, and driving for Uber and DoorDash to make ends meet.
In 2023, he secured financial aid to pursue his bachelor’s degree at Rowan University, which he completed in May. However, starting early didn’t give him the edge he hoped for, and he has received “hundreds of rejection emails” for his job applications.
Jones is now applying to various writing positions outside of sports, as well as coaching and teaching jobs. While some freelance writing gigs have provided income, they are too inconsistent and not enough to rely on. He attributes the high number of applicants for sports communications roles, saying it’s a “very brutal industry.”
Looking ahead, Jones aims to move out of his parents’ home by the end of the year. Despite his hopes for a fulfilling job that complements his degree and makes his student debt feel worthwhile, he knows this is far from a guarantee.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-grad-struggles-job-hunt-student-debt-career-pivot-2025-7