All articles tagged with #graduates
At several college commencements, graduates boo pep talks about artificial intelligence, signaling skepticism about AI’s role in higher education and concerns about its impact on jobs and curricula, with responses described as mixed rather than uniformly favorable.
A 21-year-old Kingston University digital media tech graduate, Khaled Sharif, who spent about $125,000 on his degree, says the UK job market is broken after applying to 500 roles since 2025 and getting fewer than 20 interviews with no offers. He broadened his search to sales and other fields he didn’t want, but results remained elusive; he’s considering Tesco part-time work or returning to Qatar, and has started a clothing brand Zoqué to combine his interests in fashion and photography, illustrating the high cost of degrees and the hiring squeeze driven by AI and cost pressures.
American college graduates face the worst entry-level job market since the pandemic, with underemployment at 42.5% as AI-enabled hiring and stricter employer expectations shrink opportunities. Graduates report ghosting, lengthy application processes, and job descriptions asking for 3–5 years of experience, forcing them to tailor resumes for automated screening and lowering their expectations while seeking their first role.
Atlassian laid off about 1,600 workers (roughly 10% of its global staff) to fund its AI initiatives, but CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes emphasized retaining high performers, graduates, and employees with transferable skills, signaling confidence in new entrants amid a tougher job market and AI-driven changes to work.
UK youth face a tougher job market with 16.1% of 16–24-year-olds unable to find work amid a 5.1% national unemployment rate; higher business costs and AI-driven hiring changes are shrinking entry-level roles, while graduates report fierce competition for limited opportunities, fueling calls for targeted support schemes.
Graduates, including those with master's degrees, are applying to an unprecedented number of jobs amid a highly competitive and AI-impacted labor market, with many facing ghost jobs, employer ghosting, and feeling that their degrees are a waste of money, especially among Gen Z, leading to increased unemployment and disillusionment.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlights AI's advanced capabilities, suggesting it can perform tasks comparable to PhDs, raising concerns about job displacement for new graduates. Despite a challenging job market with rising unemployment and reduced entry-level hiring, experts believe that new opportunities will emerge in AI-related fields and that skills development, upskilling, and adaptability are crucial for future job security. The article emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and innovative strategies for job seekers in an AI-augmented economy.
The article discusses how today's graduates face more challenges and fewer opportunities than previous generations, making their path to financial stability and success more uncertain.
China's already high youth unemployment rate has worsened due to the trade war and economic challenges, making it difficult for highly educated graduates like Jethro Chen to find jobs, with the job market struggling to absorb the record number of new graduates.
A recent New York Federal Reserve study reveals that engineering degrees occupy nine of the top 16 college majors with the highest incomes five years after graduation, with computer engineering majors ranking first with an annual median salary of $80,000. On the other hand, liberal arts, performing arts, and theology majors earn the lowest salaries within five years of graduating from college, with a median annual income of $38,000. The study highlights the disparity in earnings between different majors and the factors contributing to it, such as demand, skills, and job market dynamics.
Job hunting has become tougher for computer science majors as layoffs hit the tech industry, leading to a decrease in job opportunities and internships. The demand for fresh graduates has dampened, with companies being cautious and holding cash. The increase in the number of students pursuing computing degrees has also contributed to the competitive job market. Students are advised to be realistic about the expectations of tech employers, as having a degree does not guarantee a job. This trend is not limited to Singapore, as students and recent graduates in the US have also expressed concerns about job prospects in the industry.
The number of U.S. students earning bachelor's degrees in accounting dropped by 7.8% in the 2021-2022 academic year, leaving a gap in the workforce as more professionals in the field retire without enough new entrants to replace them.
China is facing a youth unemployment crisis, with the unemployment rate for people aged 16 to 24 rising to a record high of 21.3% in June. The country's inability to cope with the increasing number of graduates and shrinking job opportunities could have serious consequences for the world's second-largest economy. The pressure on wage growth and lack of consumption may further hinder economic growth and potentially lead to social instability. Factors contributing to the crisis include mismatches between the skills graduates acquire and those required by employers, as well as regulation changes in major industries. To address the issue, experts suggest reducing tight regulations on the private sector and aligning school disciplines with business demand.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is planning to recruit more graduates with tech and leadership skills to boost modernization and ease the record jobless rate for young people. With over 11 million students graduating this year, the PLA hopes to attract some of the brightest and best to join their ranks.
In a hot labor market, more high school graduates are choosing to forgo college and enter the workforce directly. This trend is driven by the availability of well-paying jobs that do not require a college degree, such as in the skilled trades and healthcare. However, experts caution that a college degree can still provide long-term benefits and career advancement opportunities.