Recent College Grads Frustrated By Lack of Jobs, AI and Tariff-Shy Employers
Gen Z graduates in Connecticut are struggling to find work as artificial intelligence, trade uncertainty, and heightened job requirements squeeze entry-level opportunities.
Job listings for recent grads are down 15%, while applications per role are up 30%, according to Handshake. For the first time, joblessness among college graduates has risen above the national unemployment rate, with men hit hardest.
“I’ve applied for over 150 jobs without a single call back,” said UConn graduate Kayleen Yacyk, who now works as a server. Many, like her, moved back home while job hunting, often sending applications into a void.
Experts say AI is eliminating stepping-stone jobs, while employers post “mid-career” level requirements for entry roles. “They’re not looking for someone who can learn,” said job coach Valerie Martinelli. “They want the perfect unicorn.”
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports underemployment among college grads has climbed to 41%, the highest since 2021. Kickresume found 58% of 2024 grads are still searching for their first job.
Meanwhile, uncertainty over tariffs and more than 125,000 federal layoffs have flooded the labor pool with experienced professionals, creating tough competition for new grads. “Everybody’s going to have a hard time. If you’re freshly minted, you’re facing a very, very hard time — and for the next few years,” said UConn economist Fred Carstensen.
AI-driven applicant tracking systems and the rise of “spray and pray” applications have only worsened the problem, leaving many Gen Z job seekers frustrated, underemployed, and living with their parents.