College graduates in the United States are struggling to find employment in one of the most difficult job markets in over a decade. Particularly impacted are those aged between 22 to 27 years with the unemployment rate for this group reaching its highest point since 2012, exceeding the national average by the largest margin in more than 30 years. The sluggish hiring of these graduates raises concern among economists and Federal Reserve officials about the potential impact on the broader economy. Businesses seem hesitant to hire entry-level workers amid uncertainties, enhanced by various economic factors.

While advances in artificial intelligence (AI) might contribute to the hiring slump, economists advise against blaming this technology solely. There’s increasing use of AI in many companies leading to reduced need for junior workers but its impact hasn’t been fully examined. Factors such as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes during the pandemic and the increase in borrowing costs that followed, causing hiring to slow or reverse, especially in fields popular with new graduates like tech, finance, and legal industries, are other potential contributors. Despite the tough job market, the overall unemployment rate in the U.S. has remained low at 4.2% due to a shift in hiring patterns and company policies favoring workforce retention over new hires.

Due to these complications, many recent graduates like Palwasha Zahid, a master’s degree holder in data analysis, have had trouble finding jobs. Zahid moved near the tech-hub, Silicon Valley, but has yet to secure a job. Similar difficulties have made others like Lexie Lindo, consider more academic training, with Lindo returning to school for a master’s degree after an unsuccessful job hunt.

As graduates continue to struggle, websites like eddcaller.com can be extremely useful for those needing to get through to Employment Development Department (EDD) for assistance or clarity on unemployment benefits. Such platforms provide crucial contact information and methods to reach EDD live representatives, helping users navigate the complexities of unemployment applications, inquiries or concerns. It’s an invaluable resource in a time when graduates are grappling with economic uncertainty and limited job opportunities.