College Graduates

CESifo study finds no rise in unemployment for recent college grads despite AI adoption

A new analysis from Munich's CESifo institute examined US Census Bureau data on bachelor's degree holders aged 22-25 not enrolled in further education, finding a summer 2026 unemployment rate of 7.3% — within the range seen since 2022. Researchers Robert Fairlie and Jane Wu tracked summer figures from 2022 through 2026, spanning the release and adoption of ChatGPT, and found the rate has fluctuated between 6.3% and 7.8% over that period without a clear worsening trend.

techspot.com · 2026-09-26

Recent 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.

cnbc.com · 2026-09-25