College grads face worst job market in over a decade

College graduates face their worst job market in over a decade, with unemployment for bachelor’s degree holders jumping to 6.1% in May from 4.4% the previous month, marking the first time in 45 years that college graduates have higher unemployment than the national average.
• New graduate hiring is forecast to drop 16% this year compared to 2024, with May and June hiring rates reaching just 4.8% — 44% lower than the same period in 2022, as businesses freeze entry-level hiring amid economic uncertainty.
• Artificial intelligence advances are eliminating traditional entry-level tasks, with 62% of Class of 2025 graduates worried about AI’s impact on their job prospects, while the tech sector has pulled back from pandemic-era hiring surges.
• Recent college graduates account for 12% of the 85% rise in national unemployment since mid-2023 despite representing only 5% of the total labor force, with many graduates taking jobs that don’t require a college degree.
• The Trump administration’s elimination of an estimated 260,000 government jobs since January has further reduced opportunities, particularly affecting graduates seeking federal employment.
Why it matters
This represents a historic shift where higher education no longer guarantees better job prospects, potentially reshaping career planning and college investment decisions for millions of students and families nationwide.

More than ever, you need every resource possible in your search.
Subscribe to TopStudentJobs.com