Finding a job after graduation is no easy task. As highlighted in the CNN article, “Degree in Hand, Jobs Out of Reach” (Jaramillo-Plata, 2025), many recent graduates struggle to secure employment despite their degrees, internships, and seemingly strong resumes. While this is a valid concern, attributing the problem primarily to the growing number of degree holders oversimplifies a deeply complex issue. The reality is that challenges faced by new graduates, particularly in 2024 when hiring slowed significantly for the first time in years, are shaped by a confluence of political, economic, and cultural factors. Addressing these challenges requires a nuanced understanding of the underlying causes and a collaborative approach to solutions.
Yes, as was reported by NACE (National Association of College and Employers) hiring of new graduates was expected to, and did decrease in 2024 (and seen below). A recent press release from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) notes that hiring for the class of 2025 is projected to increase by 7.3% (NACE, 2025). However, this optimistic forecast is contingent on a variety of factors, including political stability, economic trends, and even global events. The 2024 slowdown in graduate hiring was likely influenced by inflation, post-pandemic economic shifts, and geopolitical instability. To suggest that competition among graduates alone accounts for these challenges ignores the broader systemic forces at play not to mention previous years of positive hiring behaviors.
Additionally, the CNN article implies that employer expectations have shifted suddenly, which is not entirely accurate. Employers’ growing demand for “durable skills”—such as critical thinking, communication, and emotional intelligence—has been a steady and persistent evolution. Generational differences between recent graduates and their supervisors exacerbate this mismatch. Older generations value traits such as resilience, punctuality, and long-term commitment, while younger workers prioritize flexibility, work-life balance, and purpose-driven careers. This divergence creates friction, and navigating this landscape often falls on the graduate. Additionally, as noted by the NACE 2025 Job Outlook Report (nace-2025-job-outlook-v1) most employers use skills-based hiring practices and are willing to hire graduates with majors that fall outside the realm of their industry thus supporting the argument that it isn’t necessarily the major that is critical in your undergraduate experience/degree, rather, what you are able to show case on a transcript and CV to support that degree.
This leads me to argue that if a recent graduate did not spend time in school developing essential skills and experiences and if their institution did not work to provide the necessary opportunities and supportive measures, then either they missed substantial opportunities or their institution failed them or both. Higher education institutions are indeed under scrutiny, and rightfully so. The stakes are high: universities must demonstrate that they can deliver not just intellectual growth but also career readiness.
Accountability in Higher Education: A Necessary Shift
Institutions of higher education are facing growing scrutiny to prove their value. This scrutiny is entirely justified. Colleges and universities must show that their missions extend beyond lofty ideals to encompass practical outcomes. They should prepare students not only for prosperous careers but also for noble, spiritually fulfilling lives as civically engaged and compassionate and contributing members of society.
Some critics argue that emphasizing career preparation undermines the liberal arts mission of higher education. I disagree. Preparing students for meaningful careers and maintaining a liberal arts focus are not mutually exclusive goals. A well-rounded education can—and should—include career readiness.
Investing in career development services, integrating internships into curricula, and building stronger employer partnerships are practical steps universities can take to address these concerns. Institutions like Northeastern University and Drexel University, with their successful co-op programs, offer models worth emulating or taking notes. For smaller schools, there are institutions that require internships across all majors or have required career prep courses either through general education or as a degree requirement. These programs seamlessly blend academic learning with real-world work experience, ensuring students are ready to hit the ground running after graduation.
Solutions for Universities: A Multi-Faceted Approach
There is no single solution to the challenges facing higher education. However, universities can take several actionable steps to address the concerns surrounding the immediate value of a four-year degree and its return on investment (ROI).
- Career Development Investment: Robust career centers should be the norm, offering comprehensive services that go beyond resume reviews. These centers must provide mentorship programs, career fairs, networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, and individualized coaching.
- Mandatory Internships: Requiring students to complete at least one internship before graduation ensures they gain real-world experience and begin building professional networks. Institutions should also help students find meaningful internship opportunities.
- Career Development Curriculum: Embedding career preparation courses into graduation requirements ensures all students develop essential skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These courses can also cover professional etiquette and industry-specific knowledge.
- Post-Graduation Employment Guarantees: Some institutions are experimenting with employment guarantees, where they commit to helping graduates secure jobs within a set timeframe or offer a benefit such as refund part of their tuition, provide a discount on graduate tuition, receive additional career coaching, direct assistance with internship placement, etc. . This bold approach signals confidence in the value of their degrees. If you look carefully, the schools that have these offers, do require students to put in effort during their time in school to build the necessary skills and due to their investment in career development their placement rate 6 months and 1 year post graduation is usually already in the low to mid 90% anyway!
- Employer Relationship Development: Building strong partnerships with local and national employers can create pipelines for internships, co-ops, and entry-level roles. They can also help to invigorate curricula with case studies, projects, and real-world skill development. Universities should actively seek feedback from employers to better align curricula with industry needs.
- First Destination Reporting: Transparent reporting of post-graduation outcomes builds trust with prospective students and their families. Schools should publicize data on employment rates, starting salaries, and graduate school placements.
- Alumni Networking: Leveraging alumni networks can provide recent graduates with mentorship, advice, and job opportunities. Universities should create formal programs to connect current students with successful alumni.
Each of these initiatives requires significant investment and coordination, but they directly address criticisms about the relevance and value of higher education.
Diverse Perspectives: Where Responsibility Lies. A look at the Comment Section
The CNN article and specifically the comments section reveal a spectrum of viewpoints on who bears responsibility for the challenges recent graduates face. These can be grouped into several categories:
- Responsibility of Universities
Many argue that universities prioritize profits or amenities over education, failing to adequately prepare students for the workforce. Critics suggest that institutions should be held accountable for job placement, with some proposing partial tuition refunds for graduates who remain unemployed. Others advocate for mandatory internships, better advisement on choosing employable majors, and greater transparency about career outcomes. While Universities have responsibility to bear, and yes, it doesn’t look good when a school misuses funds or opens what looks like a facility of luxury vs one of learning. Students still need to act and perform on the opportunities provided to them. The credit for effort argument is a whole separate article!
- Responsibility of Students
Some commenters place the onus on students, arguing that they need to take greater initiative. I think these comments come from my fellow Generation X friends. As my bias and initial reaction agrees a lot with putting the responsibility here. This includes utilizing career center resources, seeking internships, and networking. Seeking out unique co-curricular opportunities, extra-curricular opportunities, and other changes to grow and build your CV/transcript to support your career dreams. Students who choose impractical majors and fail to develop essential skills are often criticized for their lack of foresight. Institutions can put safeguards on some programs by making their curriculum more multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary.
- Responsibility of Employers
Employers also play a role in the job-market mismatch. Unrealistic expectations for entry-level hires, outsourcing, and automation are frequently cited as barriers to employment for recent graduates. Companies must invest more in training and mentorship to help bridge the gap between academia and the workforce.
- Broader Social and Economic Issues
Systemic challenges, such as economic inequality, globalization, and the decline of manufacturing jobs, contribute to the difficulty graduates face. Automation and artificial intelligence are also seen as threats to traditional career paths, creating uncertainty about the future of work.
- Misaligned Expectations
Unrealistic expectations from both students and their families exacerbate the issue. Higher education is often viewed as an investment, not a guarantee, and graduates may need to adjust their expectations, starting in entry-level positions or pivoting to adjacent fields.
- Need for Specialized Programs
Work-integrated learning models, such as co-op programs, receive widespread praise for preparing students for the workforce. These programs provide not only practical experience but also confidence and clarity about career paths.
Final Thoughts: Bridging the Gap
The challenges facing new graduates require collaboration among universities, employers, and students. Higher education must evolve to align more closely with workforce needs while maintaining its commitment to intellectual growth and civic engagement. Employers must recognize their role in training and developing talent, rather than relying solely on perfectly “work-ready” hires. Finally, students must take ownership of their education and career preparation, leveraging every opportunity to build skills and networks.
Recommendations for Improvement
I am by no means an expert journalist. I’m an environmental chemist turned higher education administrator and now part-time blogger. I am finding some of the articles on mainstream media sites lacking some back journalistic rigor. To further strengthen this article, the following steps could have been taken:
- Include Additional Data: Incorporate statistics from reputable sources, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or NACE to provide context on graduate employment trends.
- Highlight Successful Models: Explore case studies of universities with innovative programs and don’t just focus on the mega-schools.
- Discuss Long-Term Trends: Analyze how factors like AI and automation are likely to reshape the job market in the coming decades.
- Address Global Comparisons: Compare the U.S. higher education system and graduate outcomes to those in other countries.
- Expand on Skills: Provide examples of “durable skills” and how they can be cultivated during college.
By weaving these elements into the article, it would offer a more comprehensive analysis and provide actionable insights for all stakeholders.
References
Jaramillo-Plata, N. (2025, January 26). Degree in hand, jobs out of reach: Why recent grads are struggling in a competitive market. CNN. https://www.cnn.com
National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2025). Job Outlook 2025 nace-2025-job-outlook-v1