Editorials & Other Articles

Zorro

(19,057 posts) Sun Jul 12, 2026, 12:13 PM Yesterday

Why recruiters can't find workers and new grads can't find jobs (it's not AI)

Experts say a major labor shortage looms because of population shifts and a mismatch between new graduates’ skills and employers’ needs.

Recent college graduates complain they can’t find entry-level jobs because artificial intelligence is taking over.

Yet, tech recruiter Matt Walsh and other experts say the growth of AI and the struggle to find entry-level work mask a bigger problem: The United States is facing what’s projected to become the largest labor shortage in its history.

In sectors such as semiconductor production, the problem isn’t AI or too few jobs, said Walsh, CEO of the Phoenix-based search firm Blue Signal.

“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “There just aren’t enough people.”

Economists warn that the worsening labor problem, due in part to a skills shortage and population shifts, will be vast and reach beyond tech.

https://wapo.st/4w1n3gM

4 replies

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Why recruiters can't find workers and new grads can't find jobs (it's not AI) (Original Post) Zorro Yesterday OP

So let's get rid of all immigrants and make it worse! Freddie Yesterday #1

I'd say programming, and all of its related fields would still be hot. A whole wave of programmers etc. have retired SWBTATTReg Yesterday #2

My thoughts exactly Dan Yesterday #3

Fwiw, I've found it nearly impossible to find competent, reliable trades people, snot Yesterday #4

Freddie

(10,201 posts)

1. So let's get rid of all immigrants and make it worse!

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Sun Jul 12, 2026, 12:17 PM

Yesterday

MAGA logic.

SWBTATTReg

(26,587 posts)

2. I'd say programming, and all of its related fields would still be hot. A whole wave of programmers etc. have retired

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Sun Jul 12, 2026, 12:20 PM

Yesterday

out finally (getting jobs beginning in the late 60s through the 70s, and then continuing through to the 80s, 90s, 2000s, 10s (retirements are roaring by now or a few years earlier). Some people I know still work part time, they don't have to, but the money is nice, and helps pay for the kid's college tuition, etc.

I would not have minded working part time, was pursued for a bit, but I ruled it out, stick a fork in me, I was done, programming, debugging, etc. nonstop 7x24. It can burn you out.

Dan

(5,367 posts)

3. My thoughts exactly

Reply to SWBTATTReg (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 12, 2026, 01:07 PM

Yesterday

When I retired at the end of 2018 - it had been a total of 38 years not counting college of work in IT. The last two years I had nothing left and was just coasting. There was no way I would do a part time job after retirement because the energy of supporting, memorizing and early morning calls was just too much. And the sacrifices you have to make over the course of your career to keep up with changes, it just never seemed to end. But a career well chosen.

snot

(11,979 posts)

4. Fwiw, I've found it nearly impossible to find competent, reliable trades people,