Our Chicago: The Jobs Outlook For the Class of 2026

Chicago’s Class of 2026 graduates face a slower job market, according to ZipRecruiter and the New York Federal Reserve. The March unemployment rate for college graduates aged 22 to 27 was 5.6%, higher than the rate for all workers. Tom Gimbel, chairman of the American Staffing Association, describes the outlook as not great but not brutal, noting that layoffs at Groupon and major tech firms like Meta and Google illustrate broad macroeconomic challenges. He argues that opportunities may appear in firms you may not expect, and that AI is increasingly screening resumes and enabling more direct communication with candidates. The takeaway is patience and adaptability for new graduates navigating a challenging but still active job market.