Are recent college graduates finding good jobs?

Abel, Jaison R.; Deitz, Richard; Su, Yaquin

Journal Article

Are recent college graduates finding good jobs?

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Great Recession; college graduates; unemployment; labor markets; underemployment;

JEL Classification: J24; J20; J64;