Although federal spending for employment opportunities has increased, local unemployment rates and mixed workforce trends leave some college students skeptical about their future in the job market.
According to the White House, in March, the U.S. added 228,000 jobs, nearly 100,000 more jobs than economists predicted in the past two years.
In Leon County, as of February 2025, the unemployment rate was about 3.8%, an increase from 3.1% in February 2024. The number of people working in February 2025 increased by 840 more than February 2024. About 167,338 people reported looking for jobs in February 2025, about 2,008 more than last February.
The federal government plays a significant role in allocating funds towards job placement services. Job funding provides more resources and opportunities for people to secure a job.
The Workforce and Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was established to strengthen our nation’s workforce system by helping Americans who may have difficulty finding employment get into high-quality careers while also assisting employers to hire skilled workers. This act gives job seekers access to employment, education, training, and support services to help them succeed in the job market.
Specific jobs are in high demand to meet the needs and demands of the people within our country.
The healthcare industry, which includes nurses, physician assistants, counselors, therapists, and more, is in high demand due to a shortage of healthcare professionals since post-pandemic.
Within the education system, there is a high demand for teachers as the percentage of teacher shortages continues to increase. Due to teachers’ pay, many of these positions are left vacant.
Some students decide to take a career path that will most likely be in high demand for years.
“As a pre-nursing student, I believe there will be plenty of job opportunities upon graduation,” said Zion Smith, a 2nd year pre-nursing student. “Nurses are needed in various settings, and with the current nursing shortage, I’m sure many hospitals and clinics have many opportunities available for recent graduates.”
On the other hand, there are students who choose career fields that they are passionate about, regardless of if it may be challenging for them to get a job upon graduation.
“I know journalism is a competitive field, so sometimes it feels a little uncertain,” said Nia Sessions, a 3rd year broadcast journalism student. “I know many people who are currently struggling to find internships in this area, so looking for a job may be even harder.”
The ever-changing job market has created a lot of uncertainty, especially among college students preparing to start their careers in the coming years.