Current Issues in Economics and Finance
Are Recent College Graduates Finding Good Jobs?
2014 Volume 20 Number 1  
JEL classification: J20, J24, J64

Authors: Jaison R. Abel, Richard Deitz, and Yaquin Su

According to numerous accounts, the Great Recession has left many recent college graduates struggling to find jobs that utilize their education. However, a look at the data on the employment outcomes for recent graduates over the past two decades suggests that such difficulties are not a new phenomenon: individuals just beginning their careers often need time to transition into the labor market. Still, the percentage who are unemployed or “underemployed”—working in a job that typically does not require a bachelor’s degree—has risen, particularly since the 2001 recession. Moreover, the quality of the jobs held by the underemployed has declined, with today’s recent graduates increasingly accepting low-wage jobs or working part-time.
Available only in PDF pdf 8 pages / 356 kb
Press Release
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. You can learn more about how we use cookies by reviewing our Privacy Statement.   Close