The Indicator from Planet Money Jobs that new college grads are and are not landing
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Apr 3, 2026 A look at a weak jobs market described as 'low hire, low fire' and what that means for new college grads. Reporting from Howard University captures students' frantic job searches and anxiety. Data from job platforms shows majors matter: tech and data roles are softer while engineering, healthcare, and trades hold up. The show explores bots, ghost listings, and strategies like networking and flexibility.
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Senior Who Stayed An Extra Year While Job Hunting
- Monica Maya applied to about 50 jobs in the past six months and still hasn't secured the position she wants.
- She delayed graduating a year because she couldn't find suitable chemical engineering roles and is applying one LinkedIn connection at a time.
Student Anxiety Over Graduating Into Hard Market
- Sanyu Lakoma and peers are anxious about graduating into higher prices and a tougher job market.
- Sanyu notes that having a degree feels valuable, but not having a job after graduation is dangerous for students.
Job Market Varies Wildly By Major
- Not all college majors face the same hiring outlook; some fields remain strong while others have steep declines.
- Indeed data shows tech postings down ~30% vs pre-COVID while civil engineering postings are up ~40%.