Trending Now - Remote Work, Not AI, Blamed for Graduates' Job Struggles
WHO:
NPR - Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, including Emma Harrington, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Virginia.
WHAT:
NPR - The unemployment rate for younger college graduates (under 29) rose to 3.7 percent in the period from 2022 to 2025, compared to an average of 3.1 percent from 2017 to 2019.
Phys.org - Remote work has increased fourfold since the pandemic, contributing to the rise in unemployment among young college graduates.
Phys.org - The study estimates that remote work can explain 64 percent of the recent increase in unemployment among young college graduates.
NPR - The unemployment rate for younger graduates in "remotable" jobs increased by almost a full percentage point after the pandemic.
NPR - The researchers concluded that remote work accounted for nearly two-thirds of the rise in unemployment among young graduates during the post-pandemic period.
NPR - The study indicated that the gap in unemployment rates between recent graduates and older workers was significantly higher in "remotable" jobs compared to "non-remotable" jobs.
NPR - A study found that the unemployment rate among younger college graduates (under 29) rose 20% after the pandemic.
NPR - Unemployment among older college graduates fell slightly during the same period.
NPR - The study concluded that remote work explained nearly two-thirds of the rise in unemployment among young graduates.
Phys.org - The study was released on a Monday.
WHERE:
NPR - The research included a deep dive into flexible work arrangements at an unnamed Fortune 500 tech company.
WHEN:
NPR - The study compared unemployment rates from 2017 to 2019 (pre-pandemic) with rates from 2022 to 2024 (post-pandemic).
WHY:
NPR - Employers are reluctant to hire recent college graduates for remote positions because it is harder for them to absorb lessons from coworkers.
NPR - The researchers noted that remote work leads to less feedback on the job, which particularly affects young workers who have the most to learn.
HOW:
NPR - The researchers found that when employees work remotely, they receive significantly less feedback, which is particularly detrimental to younger workers who require more mentorship.
NPR - The researchers utilized a widely-used index to categorize occupations as "remotable" or "non-remotable," which included software engineering and mechanical engineering, respectively.
NPR - The researchers analyzed federal employment data and used a widely-used index to categorize occupations as "remotable" or "non-remotable."
NPR - The study found that software engineers received about 20% more feedback when sitting near colleagues compared to when working remotely.
(UPDATED June 2, 2026 12:18 UTC)
The unemployment rate for younger college graduates under 29 has risen to 3.7 percent from 2022 to 2025, up from an average of 3.1 percent between 2017 and 2019. A study indicates that remote work, which has increased fourfold since the pandemic, accounts for 64 percent of this rise in unemployment, as younger workers often miss out on vital feedback and mentorship in a remote setting. Researchers emphasize that the lack of direct interaction and guidance can be particularly harmful to those just starting their careers.
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(UPDATED June 2, 2026 06:29 UTC)
A recent study has revealed that the unemployment rate for younger graduates in jobs that can be done remotely has increased by almost a full percentage point since the pandemic. Researchers found that remote work was responsible for nearly two-thirds of this rise in unemployment among young graduates, highlighting a significant gap between their job prospects and those of older workers in similar roles. The study categorized occupations as "remotable" or "non-remotable" using a widely-used index, with examples including software engineering for the former and mechanical engineering for the latter.
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(UPDATED June 1, 2026 20:23 UTC)
A new study from researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, including Emma Harrington from the University of Virginia, reveals that the unemployment rate among younger college graduates under 29 surged by 20% after the pandemic, while older graduates experienced a slight decline in unemployment. The research, which examined flexible work arrangements at a Fortune 500 tech company, concluded that remote work accounted for nearly two-thirds of the increase in unemployment among young graduates, as employers are hesitant to hire them for remote positions due to the challenges in receiving feedback and learning from coworkers. The study, released on a Monday, analyzed federal employment data and found that software engineers received about 20% more feedback when working alongside colleagues compared to working remotely.