Unemployment Among US College Graduates Remained at 5.6% in March. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate among recent US college graduates remained unchanged in March, holding at 5.6%. For their peers without a degree, the rate dropped to 7.2%.
The unemployment rate among recent American college graduates aged 22 to 27 remained at 5.6% in March 2026. These figures were published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The rate has not changed since December, indicating ongoing challenges for young professionals with higher education in the US job market.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, among their peers without a four-year degree, unemployment decreased over the same period from 7.7% to 7.2%. Despite this, college graduates continue to face high competition and a limited number of entry-level job openings.
Challenges for graduates
At the beginning of 2026, the labor market for young professionals with higher education remained tight. As noted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, this group proved to be one of the most vulnerable in the current conditions. In particular, the underemployment rate among graduates dropped to 41.5% in the first quarter, but remains significant.
One reason for the pressure on entry-level positions has been the active integration of artificial intelligence into company workflows. This reduces the number of available openings for those just starting their careers after graduating from university.
Indicator dynamics
The stability of the unemployment rate among graduates, against the backdrop of a declining rate for young people without higher education, highlights structural changes in the US labor market. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, university graduates face not only competition from their peers but also technological changes affecting the demand for their qualifications.
At the same time, despite some improvement in the situation for young workers without a diploma, the gap between the two groups persists. This reflects a general trend toward increasing difficulty in job searches for recent graduates, especially amid digitalization and automation.
