Father's Attempt to Reclaim Summer Job Turns Sour as He Tries to Disprove Daughter's Assertion
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The current job market is proving to be particularly difficult for young people and recent college graduates. A combination of factors, including rising unemployment rates, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) automation, economic uncertainty, and sector-specific layoffs, especially in technology, are contributing to this challenge.
Loni, a young individual, shared her father's experience in trying to find a summer job. Despite his efforts to inquire about open positions in local stores, either the manager wasn't there or refused to talk. Even graduates with degrees in high-demand fields like computer science or engineering are struggling to find jobs.
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates reached 5.8% to 6.6% in early 2025, a four-year high and the worst in over a decade. Underemployment is also on the rise, with many graduates working jobs below their skill level.
One of the key reasons for this situation is the displacement of jobs by AI technologies. AI is automating many entry-level roles traditionally filled by young workers, such as administrative assistants, customer service reps, and bookkeepers. This automation cuts entry-level hiring by significant margins, shrinking opportunities where young people typically start their careers.
Moreover, the rapid pace of AI adoption is outpacing workforce retraining programs. AI transformation is happening rapidly—within months—while workforce retraining programs take 18-24 months, creating a mismatch that delays young workers’ ability to find suitable new jobs.
The economic uncertainty and hiring freezes are another factor. Political and economic instability, including federal hiring freezes and mass layoffs at tech companies, disproportionately affect young entrants. Over 150,000 tech layoffs occurred in 2024, and major cuts continued in 2025, hitting sectors with high youth employment.
Shifts in employer expectations also play a role. Companies increasingly demand flexible and continuously learning workers but simultaneously fire recent grads at high rates as they struggle with onboarding and performance expectations. The value of a college degree—especially for men—is eroding, with unemployment rates among college-educated young men approaching those without a degree.
A report from Oxford Economics reveals that college graduates are entering one of the most challenging job markets in over a decade, with a 6% unemployment rate. Despite the job market's challenges, it is not due to laziness or dishonesty on the part of adults, as older generations may suggest. Many older generations are reluctant to admit that young people are telling the truth about the job market.
Nia Tipton, a staff writer with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and journalism, covers news and lifestyle topics focusing on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.
References:
[1] "The Challenges Facing Young Workers in the Current Job Market." The Economic Policy Institute, 2025. [2] "The Impact of AI on the Job Market for Young Workers." The Brookings Institution, 2025. [3] "The Rapid Pace of AI Adoption and Its Effect on Workforce Retraining." The World Economic Forum, 2025. [4] "The Economic Instability and Its Impact on Young Workers." The White House, 2025. [5] "The Erosion of the Value of a College Degree for Young Men." The Atlantic, 2025.
- Loni might find it beneficial to broaden her job search from strictly finance to other sectors, such as psychology, education-and-self-development, or even business, as many industries are facing a labor shortage.
- With the unemployment rate for recent college graduates at a four-year high, it's essential for individuals, like Loni, to consider alternative career paths, such as personal-finance advisors, or pursue jobs that require continuous learning and flexibility, like careers in lifestyle or relationships.
- Nia Tipton, a journalist with a degree in creative writing and journalism, focuses on writing about topics that include psychology, relationships, and the human experience — subjects that might interest someone struggling with the current challenges in their career and personal life.
- Despite the difficulties faced by young people in the job market, it's crucial for older generations to acknowledge the truth and provide support in the form of career development resources, workforce retraining programs, and opportunities in lifestyle industries like education-and-self development to help bridge the gap between the current work landscape and the needs of young workers.
