College Senior, Bryant Sitts works tirelessly on his senior capstone project. Photo courtesy of Seyi Arogundade.
By the time tassels turn and graduation caps hit the ground this May, many college seniors will already have to grapple with a lesson a lot more eerie than their freshman year algebra class: a silent reality that a college degree doesn’t mean as much as it used to when it comes to the workforce.
Across the United States, employment outcomes for recent graduates are at record lows. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for college graduates ages 22 to 27 has bumped up to 5.6% at the end of last year. This is a sharp uptick over the past three years but, on average, had an overall rate of 4.2%. Even within the job market, over 40% of those jobs do not require college degrees. As many students look to start their careers, the fear and uncertainty of the future is increasing.
Kay King, a graduating senior at the University of Idaho majoring in criminology and international studies, once saw college as a reliable step to stability.
“I thought that the job market would be easier to enter post-college,” she says. “That’s one of the main reasons why I chose to go to college in the first place.”
Instead, she feels that much of the job market is less about opportunity and more about experience, something that many college students do not have right out of the gate.
Kay King, senior at the University of Idaho, takes a much needed break after a busy midterm season. Photo courtesy of Seyi Arogundade.
Her experience is similar to many other college students who are ready to enter the workforce. Unfortunately, with employers both facing economic uncertainty and trying to keep up with the rapid change in technology, they are often hiring very cautiously or are getting rid of many entry-level job roles, replacing them with artificial intelligence.
According to Revelio Labs, entry-level job postings in the United States have seen a drop of about 35% since January 2023, with AI playing a large role in this decline.
At the University of Idaho, administrators who work closely with students see firsthand how these pressures play out.
Brandon Brackett, the director of student involvement at the university, talks about how the transition out of college is both economical and psychological.
“It’s a pretty challenging environment to be going into,” Brackett says. “When I went to college, it was common that once you graduated, you lived on your own and you got a job. But more often than not, folks end up moving back to their parents because there aren’t as many jobs as there used to be. It’s an intimidating space to be in right now.”
Despite the bleak workforce, for some students, this reality forces them into a much-needed change of pace.
Berenice Martinez, a medical sciences major at the University of Idaho, explained that while she once planned to become a doctor or even a dentist, she now hopes to become a chemistry professor or science educator.
“I’m feeling super optimistic, and I’m open to whatever opportunities are available,” she says.
Other students feel nervous about how to translate their work in the classroom into job experience.
Brian Sitz, a political science major at the university, noted that he does feel nervous due to this being a big first step outside of a classroom setting. Within his job search, he says it was difficult because he didn’t know where to start. However, over time, he turned to acquaintances and professional contacts to help narrow down his options. Like many students, Sitz also had to adjust his expectations for post-grad life.
Even colleges and universities are feeling the impact of lower employment rates as enrollment falls. According to data from the Pew Research Center, only one in four Americans now says having a bachelor’s degree is important to get a job. Although this is the case, many are still encouraging higher education despite this.
“I think all higher education is worth it,” Brackett says. “And when graduation time comes, there are people, organizations and support systems that you can rely on.”
Regardless, for many college students about to leap into post graduation life, this era no longer marks a clear beginning, but rather the start of an uncertain path. And while some have embraced that uncertainty with excitement, others anxiousness, and for a few, optimism, it’s clear to see that college degrees aren’t worth as much as they used to.
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