Younger Americans seeking work are facing trouble getting hired in today’s job market.
The unemployment rate for 16-to-24-year-olds climbed in August to 10.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That’s the highest level in nearly four years and a significant increase from 9% as recently as January.
The youth unemployment rate is more than twice as high as the national unemployment rate.
The findings underscore how there are fewer opportunities for younger workers.
The jobless rate is slightly higher, at 10.8%, for high school graduates aged 20 to 24 without college experience. That’s up sharply from 8.8% in July.
Even recent college graduates are having serious trouble landing a job these days. Some members of the Class of 2024 say they applied to hundreds of jobs without success – and some economists suspect artificial intelligence may be playing a role.
The unemployment rate for those aged 20 to 24 years old with a bachelor’s degree and higher climbed to 9.3% in August, up from 8.6% in July and 4.2% in April.
“The ‘low hiring, low firing’ environment has disproportionately hit the younger cohort of new college grads,” Kevin Gordon, senior investment strategist at Charles Schwab, told CNN. “We’re now likely seeing the impact of AI on this cohort, especially as companies start turning to technology to save on costs.”
Live updates: America’s job market flashes yet another warning sign about the economy | CNN Business
The job market is drying up. Prices continue to rise. Millions are living paycheck to paycheck. 70% of U.S. adults say the American Dream is dead.
What has Trump been up to lately?
Hobnobbing with billionaire Big Tech CEOs and profiting off the presidency with crypto schemes.
— Robert Reich (@rbreich.bsky.social) 5 September 2025 at 16:56
