Class of 2023 looks to carve space in job market shaped by lofty layoffs, low unemployment

by Ethan Steinberg News Editor

Members of the Class of 2023 are expanding their job-search horizon as they get set to graduate into a labor market that is simultaneously desperate and reticent to welcome them. A survey from the college recruiting platform Handshake showed that 47% of college students in its network are applying to more jobs in response to economic uncertainty, while 36% are opening their job search to more industries.

Applications to government, nonprofit and retail work have boomed, and students have indicated more willingness to move to a different city than in previous years. Across all colleges, U.S. employers are expecting to hire 3.9% more graduates than they did a year ago, but that prediction is down from 14.7% in the fall, a report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found.

Meanwhile, the labor market continues to bustle. April’s 3.4% unemployment rate matches the lowest in 54 years, and the jobs report — posting a net gain of 253,000 — jolted upward from March and bucked the downward trend central bankers have been hoping for in order to curb inflation. The labor market’s continued stirring, fueled by gains in outpatient medical centers, restaurants and professional and see JOBS, page 9 backdrop of national political divide, increased gun violence, increased mental health disorders in this generation and looming climate change, which is a major challenge. I feel that, although we’re back to normal, there’s an underlying feeling that things are not the same and that challenges have increased, which feeds back into the sense of community. The Tufts community showed its strength during the pandemic, and I hope it continues to show strength against these major challenges, because universities have a lot to offer in that realm of understanding and also thinking about how to apply understanding to help society.

I really have enjoyed this last year. It was wonderful to celebrate with students and faculty and staff at many different events, which did feel like normal. But I guess underneath is this feeling that things aren’t the same.

TD: Are you confident moving forward?

AM: I certainly am confident about the role that universities will play in rising to these challenges and the strength of community here to advance many values and principles as we rise to those challenges. But at the same time, sometimes, everyone feels that some of them are so see INTERVIEW, page 8