Work After Work: Notes from an Unemployed New Grad Watching the Job Market Break

A recent article discusses the challenges faced by a new graduate in today's job market, where traditional paths to employment seem to be disappearing. Despite following all the conventional steps, such as obtaining a degree, internships, and relevant skills, the graduate finds themselves unemployed. The job market is described as broken, with a surplus of applicants and a scarcity of opportunities. The rise of automation, robotics, and offshore labor is highlighted as contributing to the shrinking job market for new graduates, particularly in fields like computer science. The article delves into how technology is reshaping the workforce, with companies increasingly prioritizing AI and automation over human labor, leading to a shift in the types of jobs available and the skills required. It explores the concept of "out of distribution humans" whose work is not easily replicable by machines, emphasizing the need for individuals to adapt to a changing job landscape. The article also touches on the political and societal implications of these shifts, including the role of unions and the evolving definition of work in a technology-driven world.