Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Noncollege Workers See Strongest Job Market in Decades
The job market is treating some young workers differently from others.
People ages 22 to 34 who do not have college degrees are finding a relatively strong job market.
Their unemployment rate is close to its lowest point in 20 years.
Young people with college degrees are having a much harder time finding jobs.
Their current period is described as one of their weakest in years.
This creates a clear gap between the two groups.
The Burning Glass Institute studied this difference.
The analysis describes what is happening but does not explain why the gap exists.
Unemployment among 22- to 34-year-olds without college degrees is near its lowest level in two decades.
Young college graduates are experiencing one of their weakest job-market stretches in years.
The analysis identifies a notable divide between workers with and without college degrees.
The findings come from new analysis by the Burning Glass Institute.
The comparison focuses on younger workers in the United States.
- Who
- U.S. workers ages 22 to 34, including people with and without college degrees.
- What
- Workers without college degrees are experiencing near-record-low unemployment, while young college graduates face a weaker job market.
- When
- Currently, based on new analysis referenced in the report.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- The Burning Glass Institute’s analysis highlights a widening difference in job-market conditions between young workers with and without college degrees.
- Country
- United States
- Age group
- Workers ages 22 to 34
- Workers without degrees
- Unemployment is near its lowest level in two decades
- College graduates
- Young graduates are facing one of their weakest job-market stretches in years
- Research organization
- Burning Glass Institute
- Central finding
- The job market shows a striking divide by college-degree status