Degree in hand, jobs out of reach: Why recent grads are struggling in a competitive market - Nayeli Jaramillo-Plata, CNN
The unemployment gap is partly due to the increase in competition and changing employer expectations, said David Deming, professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. “What you’re seeing is a consequence of the success we’ve had in educating more people,” Deming told CNN. “Graduating college no longer gives you a leg up, as recent cohorts have seen the highest graduation rates ever.” Skill requirements for entry-level roles are higher today than a decade ago, he said. But the change has been gradual from year to year. The US economy added an average of 186,000 jobs per month throughout 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s similar to the pre-pandemic era but a slowdown from the blowout gains during the recovery.
