As students across Washington, D.C., walk the stage this month, many do so with uncertainty about what comes next.
The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) has kicked off graduation season for the Class of 2025, with ceremonies scheduled at various venues, including the University of the District of Columbia’s Theater of Arts, George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium, and American University’s Bender Arena.
From Anacostia to Jackson-Reed, nearly two dozen D.C. high schools are holding ceremonies through mid-June. Luke C. Moore High School celebrates its graduates on June 12, while Ron Brown College Preparatory High School holds its ceremony on June 14. Meanwhile, area universities such as Howard, American, Georgetown, and George Washington have already concluded their own commencements. The University of the District of Columbia marked its 48th commencement on May 10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
But as the cheers ring out and diplomas are handed over, a sobering economic reality looms. A new report from Oxford Economics reveals that recent college graduates — particularly those in the tech and STEM fields — are entering one of the most challenging job markets in over a decade. The unemployment rate for college grads aged 22 to 27 has surged to nearly 6%, outpacing the national average and marking a sharp break from historical trends where college-educated workers were typically more insulated.
“Since mid-2023, new labor market entrants — largely recent college grads — have accounted for 85% of the rise in unemployment,” said Matthew Martin, senior U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.
The downturn is especially acute in sectors once seen as reliable for new graduates. The fields of computer science and engineering have been heavily affected by automation and artificial intelligence, with entry-level roles shrinking rapidly. Jobs for recent grads in computer and mathematical occupations have dropped by 8% since 2022, while employment for older professionals in those fields rose slightly.
Black graduates are particularly vulnerable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, the unemployment rate for Black workers with a bachelor’s degree stood at 5.9% — nearly double the 3.2% rate for white graduates. The National Center for Education Statistics adds that Black students also carry disproportionately higher student loan debt.
Women are experiencing a different shift. The Oxford report found that female recent college graduates are staying in the labor force at higher rates, with participation rising 1.5 percentage points since before the pandemic. However, many are underemployed — working jobs that don’t require a college degree — and risk long-term stagnation.
“Unless we see a sharp increase in demand or major investment in equitable hiring, these trends will persist,” said Martin.
The report warns that without an expansion in job openings or a significant drop in labor force participation, the elevated unemployment rate among recent grads will continue to strain the economy.
“The unemployment rate for recent college graduates will remain elevated in the near term without a surge in demand from tech companies or a mass exodus from the labor force by these individuals, both of which seem unlikely,” the report authors concluded.
