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U.S. Job Growth Slows as New College Graduates Enter Tight Labor Market
The U.S. economy added an average of 68,000 jobs per month in 2026 through April, down from prior years. Recent graduates face fewer openings in several sectors amid government funding reductions and AI-related changes.
May 17, 11:41 AM·1m read2 sources
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Al JazeeraAudio version
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U.S. economy added an average of 68,000 jobs per month so far in 2026, compared with 49,000 in 2025 and 186,000 in 2024, according to data cited by Al Jazeera. 4 million.
Government funding reductions have affected research positions in public health and related fields. Universities including Duke, Harvard, the University of Maryland, and Princeton have implemented hiring freezes or job cuts. The federal government workforce declined by 9,000 in April and is down 348,000 since October 2024.
Julie Patel, who completed a master’s degree in public health, said expectations for available jobs and funding changed between entering and finishing her program. Molly Howard noted increased competition from prior graduates and workers whose positions were eliminated by funding cuts.
Analysis from the Stanford Digital Economy Lab showed a 16 percent decline in relative employment for early-career workers in AI-exposed sectors. A Goldman Sachs survey found AI advancements correspond to an average of 16,000 jobs cut from the economy each month.
Stephanie Alston, CEO of BGG Enterprises, said entry-level roles have been eliminated and replaced by AI in some cases. Vivica D’Souza reported applying to 60 roles in the past month with a 10 to 12 percent response rate. Courtney Gladney described interviews conducted by AI personas after graduating from LeMoyne-Owen College.
