Part 10/16:
A surprising trend emerges from recent data: US college graduates are facing longer job searches than high school grads. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the job-finding rate for young college-educated workers has declined, aligning more closely with high school graduates. This change partly results from automation, AI disruptions, and a broader slowdown in white-collar hiring.
Additionally, college majors play a role. Graduates with degrees in liberal arts or social sciences see higher unemployment—sometimes over 17%—whereas STEM fields offer better prospects. A thoughtful discussion from Brandon and others suggests that trade skills like plumbing or electrical work might be more lucrative and stable than certain degrees.