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College degrees lose job-market edge for recent grads, new research suggests

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland analysts recently flagged signs of diminished prospects for young college graduates in the U.S. labor market.
NACE's employer survey earlier this month shows participating employers weigh academic major, industry experience, internships and proficiencies more, projecting a 1.6% hiring increase for the Class of 2026 versus Class of 2025.
Findings show the job-finding rate for young college-educated workers recently declined to be roughly in line with the rate for young high-school-educated workers, Fed research analysts wrote.
Young college graduates may be losing a key labor-market advantage, and employer forecasts predict one of the worst job markets in years for recent graduates.
Longer-Term trends show GPA screening has dropped from more than 73% in 2019 to below 40% in recent years, reflecting shifts in employer hiring practices.

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