GoKawiilRecent grads face record underemployment as AI reshapes hiring, CNBC reports
CNBC reported that college graduates aged 22-27 had a 5.7% unemployment rate as of June 2026, per Federal Reserve Bank of New York data, with underemployment among grads reaching 42%. Seton Hall student editor Michela DiLorenzo told CNBC that AI is altering students' motivations, resume strategies, and post-graduation plans, with some delaying graduate school for interim work. LinkedIn data cited found 66% of recruiters planned to expand AI use in pre-screening, while 81% of job seekers said they had used or intended to use AI in their own search.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The overlapping rise of AI-driven applicant screening and AI-assisted job searching suggests both sides of the hiring process are being automated simultaneously, which could make it harder for either party to stand out or gain a real advantage. Rising underemployment among graduates may indicate that credentials alone are losing value in a market employers are reshaping with automated filters. DiLorenzo's comments suggest students are already adjusting long-term life plans, like postponing graduate school, in response to this uncertainty.
- College grad unemployment hit 5.7% in June 2026, up a point from two years prior
- Graduate underemployment reached 42%, versus 33.7% for all college graduates
- 66% of recruiters plan more AI pre-screening while 81% of job seekers use AI tools too
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See Amazon Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnbc.com — Corynn Winston, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “How recent grads and college students should be thinking about AI, the CV, and the job market”
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