LinkedIn Executive Aneesh Raman was recently in conversation with data journalist and author Katty Kay, that you can listen to here – . Their work emphasized the struggles that recent grads face in the current economy. As economic conditions change, 2023 graduates from college face historic challenges in the pursuit of their first entry-level job. Both of their comments underscored the harsh realities of our 21st century economy. They discussed what newcomers should expect to find as they come into a new workforce.
Aneesh Raman, in a powerful powerpoint presentation next to Katty Kay, painted a picture of the crisis that is confronting recent college grads. He pointed out that even his own 25 year old son—who has a master’s degree—has faced difficulty finding employment. Similarly, his son’s girlfriend, equipped with two master’s degrees, is facing difficulties in securing a paid position in her field. This personal story is emblematic of the trends impacting most young professionals across the country right now.
Katty Kay addressing her microphone Katty Kay looking every inch the fashionable journalist with her smart camel-coloured jacket and white ear-buds in situ. In her testimony, she illustrated how recent college grads are already experiencing significant barriers to obtaining their first jobs. The statistics support her assertion: job postings for entry-level roles in the United States have fallen by more than 35% since 2023. This decline creates a bleak and competitive environment for youth job seekers.
In their conversation, Aneesh Raman, Director of Tech and Innovation for Rep. He stated, “It is the best of times and the worst of times,” highlighting the paradoxical nature of today’s job market. Though these opportunities are tremendous, they carry with them new requirements and demands for accountability.
Things got a little more in-depth when Katty Kay introduced a recent LinkedIn survey of 3,000 executives. Another finding from the survey was that 63% of executives feel AI will take over most entry-level work. It’s no walk in the park for new graduates entering this market. They have to run faster than one another and faster than the breakneck pace of innovation.
Aneesh Raman emphasized that the same generation struggling to find jobs is AI-native and possesses new expectations for businesses. “If you have that computer science degree, do you have a philosophy minor so you can help me think about the ethical implications of what I’m building?” he asked, pointing out the necessity for graduates to adapt their skill sets to meet contemporary demands.
Katty Kay challenged Aneesh Raman to reflect on the graduation outcomes, and if some graduates were faring worse than others in this competitive landscape. Through their conversation, it became clear that there are many elements at play which create gaps between different job seekers. While all Hope graduates are struggling, some—especially those from marginalized backgrounds or perennially underutilized fields—have an even harder time finding a job.
The pair concluded their discussion by addressing the urgent need for young people to acquire new skills to succeed in the evolving job market. Aneesh Raman emphasized a mindset of flexibility and lifelong learning as essential elements for transcending emerging future workforce ecosystems.