Many recent grads say AI is making it harder to get a job. Economists aren't so sure

The unemployment rate for workers aged 22 to 26 with bachelor's degrees was 3.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 3.7 percent for all workers, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Recent graduates have cited artificial intelligence adoption by employers as a factor in their job search difficulties. Economists have not reached consensus on whether AI is the primary driver of elevated unemployment among recent graduates or whether other factors such as labor market saturation, skill mismatches, or economic conditions play a larger role.

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