Unemployed Graduate Forced to Rely on Menial Labor

In a disheartening scene, a young woman with a master’s degree emerged from the kitchen of an upscale restaurant in downtown New York City carrying a plate of hot food. The woman, who was identified as 25-year-old Amanda Smith, is yet another example of the harsh reality that many graduates face when entering the job market. Smith graduated from Columbia University two years ago with her master’s degree in public policy. Despite her impressive credentials and extensive experience interning for local politicians, she has been unable to find full-time employment. Instead, she has been relegated to working part-time jobs in restaurants and retail stores while struggling to make ends meet. The situation is all too familiar for recent college graduates across the country who are finding themselves unable to secure meaningful employment despite their hard work and dedication. The unemployment rate for those aged 20–24 remains stubbornly high at 7%, compared to 4% for those aged 25–34 and 3% for those aged 35–44. This suggests that younger workers are being disproportionately affected by the current economic climate. Unfortunately, this trend shows no signs of abating anytime soon as businesses continue to be reluctant to hire new employees due to economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. As such, many highly educated individuals like Smith will be forced into low-paying jobs that don’t make use of their skills or qualifications until the job market improves significantly. It’s a sad reminder that even those with advanced degrees can still struggle financially in today’s economy—a sobering thought indeed.