Tue Jul 15 16:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Gen Z Job Market: Graduation Date a Deciding Factor in Early Career Success

**New York, NY** – For Gen Z job seekers, the timing of graduation is increasingly influencing their career trajectory, creating a divide between those who entered the workforce during the booming economy of 2021-2022 and those facing the current hiring slowdown. While some recent graduates are thriving, others struggle to find employment, highlighting the significant impact of economic cycles on early career prospects.

Monica Para, a 2022 computer science graduate from the University of Illinois, secured a software engineering job before graduation. Her salary allowed her to travel and is currently funding her master’s degree at the University of Chicago. “I’m at a position where I’m able to pay for my own Master’s without having to take any loans,” Para stated, emphasizing the privilege afforded by graduating during a high-demand period.

In contrast, Solomon Jones, a sports communications graduate from Rowan University, is facing a starkly different reality. Since graduating in May, he has struggled to find full-time employment and relies on inconsistent freelance writing work. Burdened with $25,000 in student debt, Jones is living with his parents and has received hundreds of rejection emails. “The goal is to obviously get a job in the sports industry, but realistically, I know that life isn’t fair,” Jones said.

The discrepancy reflects a broader trend. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates aged 22-27 has risen from a low of 3.9% in early 2020 to 5.8% as of March, signaling a cooling job market. This shift is attributed to a widespread hiring slowdown and uncertainties surrounding tariffs and the increasing adoption of AI.

The early advantage enjoyed by older Gen Z graduates extended to homeownership as well. In 2022, 30% of 25-year-olds in the generation owned a home, boosted by low-interest rates. However, rising home prices and mortgage rates have since made homeownership less attainable for more recent graduates.

Despite the challenges, stories like Jahanvi Shah’s, who graduated from Cornell University in December 2023 with a master’s in engineering management, offer hope. After applying to over 500 jobs, Shah eventually secured a full-time product manager role after initially being rejected.

While the current job market presents obstacles, persistence and adaptability remain key. As the economy evolves, recent graduates may need to broaden their job search and remain resilient in the face of rejection.

[Those interested in sharing their job search stories are encouraged to fill out this Google Form. Individuals struggling to find work can also complete this Google Form.]

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