'I feel helpless': college graduates can't find entry-level roles in shrinking market amid rise of AI

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

American college graduates are facing the worst entry-level job market since the pandemic, with the underemployment rate reaching 42.5% – its highest level since 2020.

Several young graduates told the Guardian about their struggles navigating a job market shaped by tightening opportunities, the rise of AI and shifting employer expectations.

Gillian Frost, a 22-year-old student at Smith College in Massachusetts, has been searching for work since last September. Majoring in quantitative economics with a minor in government and set to graduate in May, she described a grueling and often discouraging process.

“Every weekend, I dedicate over two hours to job applications. As of today, I’ve applied to over 90 jobs. I’ve been ghosted by nearly 25% of them and rejected automatically from around 55%,” she said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/feel-helpless-college-graduates-t-110015605.html

[LisaM]

1. I graduated when Reagan was President and jobs were hard to come by.

At least, white collar jobs. I worked in a bookstore for a few years, then at a daycare, before eventually finding a job in a law firm and working up from file clerk to paralegal. And my experience wasn't that unusual. The only people who were immediately employable seemed to be business majors, nurses, and engineers. My college roommate was a waitress for years, before eventually finding a career in doing fundraising.

The biggest difference was that the cost of living, especially housing, was lower. I had student loans and those were thin times for me, but I could scrape by at least.

I don't know if today's graduates can scrape by, or if they are willing to work at stores or restaurants until something turns up.

I don't know the particulars of this graduate, though I know many many college students are using AI to do their coursework. So there is an unfortunate irony if it's screening them out from job opportunities.

[WSHazel]

2. We need to stop blaming "AI"

AI has limited uses, and is a long way from having a meaningful impact on the job market. The real reason for the underemployment is TERRIBLE government policy and the fact that we are likely in a recession that the government is hiding from us.

Everyone is afraid of Trump so they blame the poor job market on AI.

[Iris]

3. This.

Quite frankly 2 hours each weekend doesn't sound like much to me.