Success has always been measured differently across generations. At one time, a degree was practically a stamp of approval for opportunities. Now, the story looks very different.
Many young men are finding that their years in lecture halls don’t give them an edge over peers who skipped college altogether. It’s a shift that raises real questions about what education promises and what it actually delivers in today’s economy.
Keep reading, and you’ll see why these facts matter—and how they might reshape the way you think about college, work, and the future of opportunity.
BLS Shows Same Jobless Rate For Grads And Non-Grads
In March 2025, data compiled by the Federal Reserve from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that college graduates aged 22 to 27 and those without a high school diploma shared an identical 5.8% unemployment rate.
Look closer at the statistic, and the message becomes clear: parents need to re-examine what higher education is actually worth in today’s labor market.
Degree Premium Has Crashed
Now here’s the kicker:
Male Gen Zers, degree or not, now face jobless rates between 5.5% and 6.9%, according to the U.S. Current Population Survey. Federal Reserve figures echo the trend, showing unemployment among male college graduates aged 22–27 rising from about 5% to roughly 7%.
This aligns with the rate for peers who never finished college—a gap that stood at eight points in the early 2010s. What once set you apart now only puts you on equal footing. The old safety net of a diploma has all but disappeared.
Women Grads Still Enjoy An Edge
Luckily, young female graduates are holding onto solid ground. Their unemployment rate remains about 4%, notably lower than the 7% rate faced by their male counterparts.
Women continue to leverage their degrees as a competitive edge, and this shows that sector choices and economic shifts have different impacts on demographics. Today, the choices you make matter more than ever.
Healthcare Booms While Male-Dominated Fields Stall
Between June and the previous year, almost 50,000 new jobs held by female grads were in healthcare—double the total additional hires awarded to male grads across all fields.
This explains a lot. Healthcare has become a sturdy ship in choppy seas, while sectors like tech and finance—traditionally male-dominated—aren’t pulling their weight yet. It’s a stark reminder: where you aim your education still counts.
Vocational Track Surges 20%
Since 2020, enrollment in vocational programs in fields such as carpentry and mechanics has increased by 20%. This aligns with a shift toward skill‑based hiring over traditional degrees.
The growing interest in trade schools reflects a realignment in what both workers and employers value. You’re starting to see career paths breaking away from the bachelor’s track, and it’s a turning point.
Closing Insight
You’re looking at a moment of reckoning: the belief that a college degree guarantees job security has cracked, especially for young men in the Gen Z generation.
What you choose to study, and the paths you take, matter far more than the paper itself. It isn’t about knocking college; it’s about recognizing what works in today’s market. And that’s something worth talking about.
