Congratulations class of 2024, you've graduated from college. But now what? 

If you look at statistics, new graduates today have better than average job prospects. 

At a macro level, the US job market is looking good. 175,000 new jobs were added in April, and the unemployment rate remained low - at just 3.9 percent.

But, that may not be how it feels to every job seeker.

Expedia, Amazon, and Microsoft are just a few of the local tech companies that have laid off employees recently. 

And it’s not just tech: there have also been layoffs at REI, Dollar Tree, and at local media organizations - like KUOW.

There are ripple effects of these layoffs. Workers with more experience are now also looking for work, along with new graduates. And that’s leading some recruiters, and job candidates, to say that finding a job is getting harder, and taking longer.

Guests:
Hart Hodges: a Professor in the Department of Economics at Western Washington University and Director of Western's Center for Economic and Business Research
Bonnie Dilber: a recruiting manager at the tech company Zapier, and content creator who talks about job searches, recruiting, and the workplace.
Briana Randall: executive director of the career and internship center at the UW Seattle campus

Congratulations class of 2024, you've graduated from college. But now what? 
If you look at statistics, new graduates today have better than average job prospects. 
At a macro level, the US job market is looking good. <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">175,000 new jobs </a>were added in April, and the unemployment rate remained low - at just 3.9 percent.
But, that may not be how it feels to every job seeker.
Expedia, Amazon, and Microsoft are just a few of the local <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoffs-sweeping-us-these-are-companies-making-cuts-2024">tech companies</a> that have laid off employees recently. 
And it’s not just tech: there have also been layoffs at <a href="https://mynorthwest.com/3948014/seattle-area-layoffs-microsoft-rei/">REI</a>, <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/05/dollar-tree-layoffs-2024-what-to-know-about-the-latest-dltr-job-cuts/">Dollar Tree</a>, and at local media organizations - like KUOW.
There are ripple effects of these layoffs. Workers with more experience are now also looking for work, along with new graduates. And that’s leading some <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/16/finding-a-job-is-getting-harder-even-in-a-strong-labor-market-heres-why.html">recruiters</a>, and job candidates, to say that finding a job is getting harder, and taking longer.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Hart Hodges: a Professor in the Department of Economics at Western Washington University and Director of Western's Center for Economic and Business Research</li>
<li>Bonnie Dilber: a recruiting manager at the tech company Zapier, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bonniedilber/?hl=en">content creator</a> who talks about job searches, recruiting, and the workplace.</li>
<li>Briana Randall: executive director of the career and internship center at the UW Seattle campus</li>
</ul>

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