College graduates, especially in California, are facing significant challenges in securing full-time employment. Graduates like Param Pal, a business major from San Jose State University, are experiencing rejections even from entry-level jobs. With a 9.7% unemployment rate for young adults, companies are raising job requirements, often demanding 2 to 5 years of experience for roles that traditionally welcomed recent graduates. Internships, seen as essential for gaining experience, are also difficult to obtain, with many applications yielding little response. This trend is exacerbated by the displacement of entry-level jobs through automation and artificial intelligence.
"A bachelor's degree is just not enough," Pal said. He is not alone in this feeling, as students with bachelor's degrees are grappling with the competitive job market."
"In California, statistics show a 9.7% unemployment rate for 20- to 24-year-olds in April 2025 compared with 5.2% for the overall population."
"Entry-level positions are being displaced by artificial intelligence at higher rates."
"I applied to about 200 internships and heard back from less than 20," Pal said.
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