Archive · 9 Jun 2025
Bleak Job Market for New College Grads: High Unemployment
Imagine you just finished college and are looking for a job.
It's like the economy is in a weird spot.
Normally, college grads have it easier than everyone else, but not now!
Companies are hesitant to hire due to uncertainty about things like trade and government policies.
This means fewer job openings, and more people applying for each one.
This might cause problems because if companies start laying people off, the economy could get worse.
Also, some sectors like tech and finance might be seeing early impacts from AI.
Recent college grads have a higher unemployment rate than the national average.
Companies are hesitant to hire due to uncertainty surrounding trade and policy.
Job postings have decreased while applications per job have increased.
New graduates account for a significant portion of unemployment rate increases.
The potential for AI impacts could affect white-collar jobs.
- Who
- Recent college graduates.
- What
- The job market is tough for recent college graduates.
- When
- The challenges are currently affecting the Class of 2025.
- Where
- The U.S. labor market.
- Why
- Uncertainty around trade and policy, and potential AI impacts
New Grads
Employers
Job Availability
New Grads
Struggling to find jobs.
Employers
Lowering hiring rates, and a 'low hiring, no firing' situation
- Unemployment Rate for New Grads
- 6%
- National Unemployment Rate
- 4.2%
- Decline in Job Postings on Handshake
- 15%
- Increase in Applications per Job
- 30%
- Employment increase for those over 27 with computer science degrees
- 0.8%
- Employment decrease for recent computer science grads
- 8%