Recent data shows their unemployment rates have risen to nearly 6%, matching those without degrees.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A college degree has long been seen as the ticket to a good job — but for many young men, that promise is slipping away.
Young men with college degrees are struggling in today’s job market. Recent data shows their unemployment rates have risen to nearly 6%, matching those without degrees.
Entry-level hiring has slowed sharply. Jobs in tech, finance and business services — fields that typically employ new grads — have dropped significantly.
At the same time, women — especially Gen Z women — are doing comparatively better. They dominate growing sectors like health care, education and hospitality.
Studies also point to a broader shift: degrees may no longer offer the same job advantage they once did. Employers are increasingly valuing in-demand skills and experience over credentials.
The result? A generation entering the labor force is facing fewer opportunities and a diminishing payoff from a college education.