Monica Para is one of the lucky ones. She landed a software engineering job<\/a> in the fall of 2022, several months before graduating with a computer science degree from the University of Illinois. She said the salary has allowed her to travel about once a month, and she’s now planning to pursue a secondary degree at the University of Chicago.<\/p>\n “I’m at a position where I’m able to pay for my own Master’s without having to take any loans,” she said, “A privilege not many have.”<\/p>\n She’s among the cohort in her generation that kickstarted their careers in a high-demand job market. At that time, just 3.9% of recent college graduates<\/a> ages 22 to 27 were unemployed \u2014 the lowest rate<\/a> since February 2020.<\/p>\n Since then, however, the job market for recent grads<\/a> has steadily worsened. As of March, the jobless rate for this group had climbed to 5.8%.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This shift, driven by a broad hiring slowdown<\/a> across several industries, has left recent grads like Solomon Jones facing a much tougher job market. Jones graduated from Rowan University in May with a degree in sports communications, but he’s struggled to land a full-time role, and freelance writing gigs have provided inconsistent income.<\/p>\n Related stories<\/p>\n Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know<\/p>\n Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know<\/p>\n Jones, who has about $25,000 in student debt<\/a>, is living with his parents in New Jersey while he looks for work, but said he’s received “hundreds of rejection emails.” In recent months, he’s broadened his search to include various writing roles, as well as coaching and teaching positions.<\/p>\n “The goal is to obviously get a job in the sports industry, but realistically, I know that life isn’t fair,” said the 26-year-old. “So at this point, I’m just trying to find a job, period.”<\/p>\n Solomon Jones has been struggling to find work after graduating from Rowan University in May.<\/p>\n Solomon Jones<\/p>\n The economy of recent years has created a divide within Gen Z, the oldest of whom are now 28. Many who graduated into the red-hot job market and low-interest rate world<\/a> of 2021 and 2022 got the chance to make good progress toward the American dream and could be well on their way to HENRY \u2014 high earner, not rich yet<\/a> \u2014 status. More recent graduates, by contrast, have generally had a harder time, and could spend years getting a toehold in a career \u2014 and don’t even ask them about buying a home.<\/p>\n Have you landed a new job in the last few years and are open to sharing your story? Please fill out this quick\u00a0Google Form<\/a>. Struggling to find work? Please fill out this\u00a0Google Form<\/a>.<\/p>\n How recent grads can progress in their careers in a tough job market<\/p>\n In 2021 and 2022, US businesses hired at the highest rates in decades. But in 2023, hiring began to slow, a shift that persists today. Amid tariff uncertainty<\/a> and the early effects of AI adoption<\/a>, US companies are now hiring at nearly the slowest pace since 2014.<\/p>\n While layoffs remain low by historical standards, Americans who don’t have a job but want one are in a much tougher spot. This has left many young college grads<\/a> \u2014 new to the workforce and without roles to fall back on \u2014 especially vulnerable.<\/p>\n The impact of graduation timing extends beyond the job market. Some older Gen Zers were able to buy homes and lock in rock-bottom mortgage rates<\/a> before borrowing costs began rising in 2022. That year, 30% of 25-year-old Gen Zers owned a home \u2014 a higher rate than millennials or Gen Xers had at the same age, according to a Redfin analysis.<\/p>\n But rising home prices and mortgage rates have since stalled<\/a> that momentum, yet another sign that for many in the generation, timing is everything.<\/p>\n Still, some grads who entered the job market at an opportune moment have also faced career challenges, while others who graduated into a tougher environment have managed to find work.<\/p>\n While Para was able to start working post-graduation, she said the job wasn’t a good long-term fit. In March, after a roughly four-month search, she landed a data analyst position in the education field. She said she’s happy with her new job \u2014 but more than anything, she’s grateful to be employed.<\/p>\n “I feel good about having a role because it gives me something to look forward to every day,” said the Illinois resident. “I have friends who are younger than me, who graduated from elite universities, who still can’t get a job a year-and-a-half after graduating.”<\/p>\n That’s what Jahanvi Shah feared would happen to her. In the months before graduating from Cornell University in December 2023 with a master’s in engineering management, Shah said she applied to over 500 jobs and secured five interviews, but none led to a full-time offer. As an international student, this put her immigration status in jeopardy.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/placeholder.png\")
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