Why Are So Many College Graduates Struggling To Find Decent Jobs?

There’s no question about it: a college degree isn’t what it used to be.

The latest statistics show that 18 percent of young U.S. college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed. These college grads feel they are doing everything right by going to college, yet they can’t get the jobs they want and feel qualified for once they graduate.

In a recent piece on LinkedIn, Alistair Cox, CEO of recruiting firm Hays PLC, addressed the disconnect between the college education system and the modern job market.

According to Cox, many students are simply choosing bad degrees.

“Students are graduating with degrees offering neither technical nor vocational knowledge, yet these are what employers are often looking for first,” he explains.

While 87 percent of recent college graduates feel prepared for a job in their field of study, roughly half of hiring managers disagree.

“Around the word, many graduates simply aren’t employable in the roles being created today, yet will have spent at least 3 years racking up debt to study a course that will not help them find a relevant role,” Cox adds.

Cox believes the educational institutions, employers, governments and the graduates themselves all share partial responsibility for the unfortunate situation.

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Looking ahead, the more important issue is finding a solution.

Cox believes that the government, educational institutions and business leaders should work together to ensure that all parties are on the same page about the type of employees that the economy needs and which degrees and skill sets should be encouraged and incentivized.

Another portion of the responsibility lies with the students themselves, but parents and high school educators should also consider changing the discussion related to college. Certain college degrees are no longer serving their intended purpose of preparing students to enter the work force.

“We need to be encouraging our young people to consider the future jobs market before choosing what to study,” Cox concludes. He adds that college students should at least consider whether or not their chosen course of study will provide the type of skills employers are looking for in the real world.