US college graduates face harsh job market amid economic uncertainty

"Like millions of her peers around the country, she is headed into a precarious job market amid a surge in economic uncertainty driven by a range of reasons, including tariffs, the proliferation of artificial intelligence, global conflicts and, in her case, government funding cuts in her industry, slowing hiring, especially of new graduates."

"The most recent Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey released by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that with 6.9 million open jobs in March, hirings increased marginally by 655,000 to 5.6 million, and separations were at 5.4 million. That means that for those who already have jobs, they are seldom leaving them for new ones, leaving students like Patel in a difficult position."

"“I think expectations of when I came into this programme and coming out of it in terms of a job search, funding and what's available are two very different things,” Patel told Al Jazeera."

"The depressed hires rate suggests that it is more difficult for new entrants to get a foothold in the labour market, Elise Gould and Joe Fast said in a recent analysis published by the economic think tank Economic Policy Institute. The quits rate is down, signalling a reduction in the overall churn in the labour market as workers and employers sit tight t"

Graduates in New York City gather in May to mark the end of college and the start of uncertain employment. A public health master’s graduate reports that expectations about job search, funding, and available opportunities differ sharply from reality. Hiring is slowed by government funding cuts, tariffs, advances in artificial intelligence, and global conflicts, contributing to broader economic uncertainty. U.S. labor data shows 6.9 million job openings in March, with hirings rising only slightly to 5.6 million and separations at 5.4 million. The low hiring and reduced quits indicate fewer people leaving jobs, limiting openings for new entrants and making it harder to gain a foothold in the labor market.

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