America’s Young Graduates Face a Harsh Job Market Reality

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Armed with degrees from top universities and multiple internships, many young Americans like 23-year-old Christina Salvadore expected to launch promising careers after graduation. Instead, they’re facing one of the toughest job markets for new college grads in nearly a decade.

Salvadore, a Georgetown graduate, has spent months applying for hundreds of positions in New York’s fashion and beauty industries, with no success. “It definitely sucks when people ask what I’m doing now,” she said. “I’m sitting in my parents’ house on LinkedIn 24 hours a day.”

Federal data confirms that Salvadore’s struggle is part of a larger trend. The unemployment rate for “new entrants”, including recent graduates, has reached a nine-year high. Gad Levanon of the Burning Glass Institute calls it “no country for young grads,” noting that the traditional college-to-career pipeline is breaking down.

Graduates with bachelor’s degrees, once assured of better job security, are now seeing unemployment rates closer to those with only high school diplomas. Social media platforms like TikTok have become outlets for frustrated graduates to share their stories of rejection, “ghosting,” and burnout.

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Economists point to a “low-hiring, low-firing” market and the rapid rise of AI as key factors. A Stanford study found employment among 22 to 25-year-olds in AI-exposed roles dropped 13% since 2022. Sectors like tech have cut entry-level hiring by over 50%.

While healthcare roles such as nursing remain strong, many other fields offer fewer opportunities. For countless young Americans, job hunting has become a full-time struggle, and the dream of an easy transition from college to career feels more uncertain than ever.