MU graduates enter shifting job market
Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Saturday marked the second day of commencement ceremonies on the University of Missouri’s campus, celebrating the accomplishments of students in multiple fields.
Roughly 6,000 students are expected to graduate from the university this weekend. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% in April. While unchanged from previous months, it is slightly higher than it was in May of last year.
Among this year’s graduates is first-generation student Noe Damia, who says the workforce can be intimidating, but he’s ready for it.
“I think it’s really scary, but I think it’s also really exciting to finally, like, get into the real work after, like all these 14 years of studying and all that,” Damia said. “So, I think it’s pretty, pretty overwhelming, but pretty rewarding as well.” He plans to begin an internship after graduation.
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates with a bachelor’s degree currently sits at 15.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, several Mizzou graduates already have plans in place.
Jordyn Gegg, a graduate from the Trulaske College of Business with an emphasis in Finance and Real Estate, is launching his professional journey close to home.
“After graduation, I’m happy to be working on my real estate investing business here in Columbia,” he said.
Some graduates are continuing their education. Madelyn Williams, who earned her degree in Agriculture, plans to attend the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and hopes to pursue a career in equine medicine.
Others are headed abroad.
Audrey Cousins, a Communications graduate, said that she will be moving to the Philippines for the next three years to join the staff team of a ministry organization.
The healthcare industry added 51,000 jobs in April, closely aligning with its monthly average of 52,000 over the past year. The federal government employment continued to decline, dropping by 9,000 jobs last month and down 26,000 since January.
Out of the 1.2 million graduates aged 20 to 29 who earned their bachelor’s between January and October last year, nearly 70% had secured employment by October 2024.
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates with a bachelor’s degree is at 15.3%, and 8.4% for those with advanced degrees.
The number of people who have been jobless for 27 weeks or more increased from 179,000 to 1.7 million. Long-term unemployment now accounts for 23.5% of all unemployed people.
The highest unemployment rate in the past 20 years was recorded in April 2020 at 14.8%, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Graduation ceremonies at MU are expected to wrap up by Sunday afternoon.