"For much of the last decade, individuals aged 22 to 27 with at least a bachelor's degree-classified as "recent graduates"-enjoyed a lower unemployment rate compared to the broader workforce. However, post-pandemic shifts have flipped this pattern. Since the global disruptions of COVID-19, recent grads' jobless rate has consistently outpaced the overall unemployment rate. In July 2025, the national unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%, but the figures were even higher among recent graduates."
"BofA's analysis further ties the bleak outlook for recent grads to macroeconomic headwinds, including rising global trade tensions and the rapid integration of automation in the workplace. These factors disproportionately impact younger applicants and those without lengthy work experience. The findings emerge from an aggregation of US Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, blended with proprietary Bank of America transaction analyses."
Recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 now face higher unemployment than the overall workforce, reversing a decade-long advantage. Since COVID-19, recent grads' jobless rates have consistently outpaced the national rate, with July 2025 showing even higher figures than the 4.2% national unemployment. Over 13% of unemployed Americans in July were new entrants, skewing toward Gen Z, a share not seen since 1988. Rising global trade tensions and rapid automation are eroding entry-level opportunities and disproportionately affecting younger applicants without lengthy work experience. Monthly rates are seasonally adjusted and derived from Census, BLS, and Bank of America transaction data.
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