In June 2023, about 11.2 percent of recent college graduates were working in low-wage jobs in the United States. This is a slight increase from June 2021, when 10.8 percent of recent college graduates were working low-wage jobs.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York classifies low-wage jobs as those that tend to pay around 25,000 U.S. dollars or less. Recent college graduates are defined as those aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor's degree or higher and not enrolled in further study.
Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023
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Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023
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Figures for all months are the rate as at the first day of that month.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York classifies low-wage jobs as those that tend to pay around 25,000 U.S. dollars or less. Recent college graduates are defined as those aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor's degree or higher and not enrolled in further study.
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Abigail Tierney
Research expert covering U.S. politics and economics
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New York Fed. (July 28, 2023). Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/642040/share-of-recent-us-college-graduates-working-low-wage/
New York Fed. "Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023." Chart. July 28, 2023. Statista. Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/642040/share-of-recent-us-college-graduates-working-low-wage/
New York Fed. (2023). Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 26, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/642040/share-of-recent-us-college-graduates-working-low-wage/
New York Fed. "Percentage of Recent College Graduates in The United States Working in Low-wage Jobs from June 2017 to June 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Jul 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/642040/share-of-recent-us-college-graduates-working-low-wage/
New York Fed, Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/642040/share-of-recent-us-college-graduates-working-low-wage/ (last visited April 26, 2025)
Percentage of recent college graduates in the United States working in low-wage jobs from June 2017 to June 2023 [Graph], New York Fed, July 28, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/642040/share-of-recent-us-college-graduates-working-low-wage/
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