AI isn’t the real reason college grads can’t find jobs

There might be a bigger culprit for the rising unemployment rate among young workers, according to new research.

College graduates are up against a number of forces as they navigate the current job market—AI being chief among them. As companies cut entry-level jobs and cite AI adoption to justify layoffs, new entrants to the workforce have found themselves in an especially precarious position. By the end of 2025, unemployment among young college graduates had soared to 5.6%.