‘Embarrassing’: This Brooklyn college grad has 2 degrees, speaks 3 languages — but can't even land a minimum wage retail job going store to store. Is the US labor market really that strong?

‘Embarrassing’: This Brooklyn school grad has 2 levels, speaks 3 languages — however cannot even land a minimal wage retail job going retailer to retailer. Is the US labor market actually that robust?

It is protected to say most younger individuals don’t personal a printer lately. However latest school graduates might discover they want arduous copies of 1 factor: their resume.

Lohanny Santos is a type of individuals. The Brooklynite has two levels — one in communications, the opposite in performing — but she’s having hassle discovering a job. In a viral TikTok, the 26-year-old will be seen getting emotional as she holds a stack of resumes handy out to shops and eating places to be able to rating a minimal wage job.

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“It’s truthfully a little bit bit embarrassing,” Santos says. “I converse three languages.” Her disappointment and desperation are clear.

But the unemployment charge has remained at 3.7% — near a historic low — for the third month in a row in January, in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So if the job market is doing nicely, why can’t a well-educated individual like Santos get a job?

A market cool-down

Unemployment could also be low proper now, nevertheless it has been decrease just lately. In January 2023, the unemployment charge hit 3.4% — its lowest quantity since Might 1969, in accordance with the Division of Labor.

The 0.3% improve in a single yr might not appear to be lots. However to younger individuals on the hunt for his or her first job it most likely makes an enormous distinction.

That is significantly true after the hiring frenzies that happened after the Nice Resignation in 2021 and 2022. Throughout this employee scarcity, CNBC reviews that retail shops and eating places elevated wages and advantages for workers.

However now, the job market is present process an “immaculate cooling,” in accordance with an August 2023 X post from Harvard economist Jason Furman.

So though the job market remains to be robust, it feels a lot tougher than the earlier years. For an adolescent with out a lot expertise making use of for jobs, this could be a humbling expertise.

Tech layoffs have elevated

Santos doesn’t point out whether or not or not she utilized for tech jobs earlier than happening her in-person job hunt. But when she did, she might not have had much luck.

Over 34,000 tech workers have been let go from firms like Google and Amazon up to now in 2024, in accordance with monitoring web site Layoffs.fyi. Corporations prioritizing and investing extra in AI contributed to this, per consultants talking with Reuters.

Learn extra: This is how a lot the typical 60-year-old American holds in retirement financial savings — how does your nest egg compare?

Even extremely expert tech staff are having hassle discovering new jobs after they get laid off, in accordance with The Washington Post.

However there’s excellent news for all of the laid off tech staff: different fields are keen to select up expert staff for themselves. Aerospace, well being care and training need the employees who minimize their chops in tech, in accordance with CNBC.

Employees need various things now

The job market has additionally modified because of employee calls for. Due to the employee scarcity in 2021 and 2022, staff have more power than they used to.

This additionally signifies that workers anticipate extra from a job — significantly new ones. As Gen Z has began to enter the workforce, they’ve discovered {that a} 9-5 job will be boring and tiring.

Over half of Gen Z need to be an influencer, in accordance with a recent study from analysis agency Morning Seek the advice of — together with Santos, who says: “I simply need to be a TikToker.” They need the flexibleness, the management and the private success that include this sort of job. BBC reports that some consultants assume that is making youthful staff much less keen to take jobs as a result of they don’t match this mannequin.

Santos might be on observe to reaching her TikTok goals. She has 160,500 followers on the app and her movies commonly go viral.

However till then, she marches on together with her job search.

“I actually must earn a living,” Santos says. “So I’m simply going to maintain making an attempt.”

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This text offers data solely and shouldn’t be construed as recommendation. It’s offered with out guarantee of any form.

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