‘The Job Market for Young People Is Brutal’

Something weird is going on with the elevated unemployment rate for young people today, but no one knows what exactly it is.

For the last year, as the unemployment rate for recent college graduates has crept up ominously, one of the questions I’ve reported more deeply than any other is: Is AI replacing young workers’ jobs? To make a long story short: I initially thought yes, then some economists convinced me the answer was no, then some other economists convinced me the answer was yes, then some other people convinced me the answer was no. Clear as mud.

Today’s guest is Rogé Karma. He’s a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he writes about economics. We talk about the labor market for new hires, why young college graduates are so miserable, and why economic vibes are worth paying attention to, even if the official statistics are pointing in another direction.

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Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Rogé Karma

Producer: Devon Baroldi

Links:
https://www.theatlantic.com/category/work-progress/
https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/2026/04/job-market-artificial-intelligence/686659/

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