# This Year’s College Grads Have A Tricky Road Ahead

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/this-year-s-college-grads-have-a-tricky-road-ahead
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/this-year-s-college-grads-have-a-tricky-road-ahead.md
Podcast: [KQED's Forum](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728)
Published: 2026-05-22T18:49:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC7259067041.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC7259067041.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kqed-s-forum-910728/episodes/this-year-s-college-grads-have-a-tricky-road-ahead
Duration seconds: 3291

## Resource

The college graduates in the Class of 2026 have not had an easy path. Part of their high school years were spent in Covid lockdown. And now, they are graduating into a difficult economy pockmarked by political strife, high cost of living and the rise of AI. Nationally, more than 40% of recent college graduates are considered underemployed, working in jobs that do not require their degree, and the unemployment rate for recent grads has risen to 5.6%. Graduating into uncertain economic cycles is nothing new, but how are this year’s graduates coping? We’ll talk to students about their experiences and to experts about how to navigate this job market. Guests: Emily Medress, chief strategy and operations officer, Kissick Family Foundation Stella Occhialini, graduating senior, UC Berkeley Caden Chang, college senior, San Jose State University Anita Manuel, associate director, career education, San Jose State University Nicole Smith, research professor and chief economist, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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## Transcript

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