Graduates Head Abroad as U.S. Entry-Level Job Market Shrinks
Recent U.S. college graduates, armed with good grades and impressive resumes, are increasingly struggling to find entry-level jobs at home. This difficult job search is pushing many, like Ricardo Dollero from UCLA, to seek employment opportunities abroad, often by teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL).
The Current Job Market Reality for New Grads
While overall U.S. unemployment rates appear low, the reality for recent graduates is far less optimistic. Data shows that the unemployment rate for new grads has consistently been higher than the national average since 2018, with a nearly 2% difference as of March 2025 (5.8% for recent grads vs. 4.0% overall). This competitive landscape is intensified by the growing trend of companies replacing entry-level positions with AI and automation, with 40% of employers expecting to reduce their workforce through AI integration.
TEFL Programs Offer a Solution
Organizations like the TEFL Institute are seeing a significant rise in interest from recent graduates looking for TEFL certification. These programs offer a pathway to gaining global experience, developing transferable skills, and making a meaningful impact, often without requiring prior teaching experience. They also provide crucial support for navigating the logistics of living and working abroad, making the transition easier for young adults who may be new to international travel or full-time employment.
Benefits Beyond Employment
For graduates like Dollero, teaching abroad has proven to be a fulfilling experience, marked by the respect received from students—a stark contrast to the challenges faced by teachers in the U.S. Beyond the immediate job opportunity, these experiences foster the development of essential soft skills. The World Economic Forum's 2025 Future of Jobs Report highlights the increasing importance of skills such as creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, agility, and curiosity in a workforce adapting to AI and post-pandemic changes. These are precisely the skills honed by navigating new cultures and managing classrooms.
A Recommended Path Forward
Many graduates, with over half of the Class of 2025 feeling pessimistic about their career prospects, are considering alternatives to traditional nine-to-five office jobs. Dollero, having found success and personal growth through his TEFL experience, strongly advocates for others to consider working abroad. He emphasizes that rejections in the U.S. job market don't necessarily reflect opportunities elsewhere.