Graduating seniors from historically black colleges face a tough job market and diminishing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
New and Refreshed Content:
Transitioning from a prestigious Howard University education, Dez Rosier, a 22-year-old political science major, was eyeing a federal career, specifically within the Department of Education. However, budget cuts and the Trump administration's perceived dismissal of DEI initiatives led him to shift his focus.
Rosier, a first-generation college student, wasn't thrilled about Donald Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Department of Education nor his subsequent efforts to put it into motion. This left him feeling discouraged.
Joining a grim chorus of new graduates, Rosier is among four Black individuals NBC News spoke with who are grappling with a job market showing signs of DEI rollbacks, diminished recruitment enthusiasm for Black workers, and a cooling-down in hiring overall. Unemployment for new college grads increased to 5.8% as of March, compared to 4.6% the previous year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's recent report.
Walter Pearson, CEO of College Bound Parenting, an organization that aids Black college students in career preparation, lamented that this year, he could only help half the number of students he usually assists in landing their first job. Most of the students NBC News interviewed mentioned that they're leaving college without job offers, uncertain about a future where they might be overlooked without explicit protections in place.
"I can't be a part of something I don't feel I'm wanted in," Rosier shared. "So I definitely want to be in a position where I'm wanted, not where I'm tolerated."
To break away from the tumultuous job market, Rosier plans to focus on grassroots politics in his home state of Maryland, using his experience in local and state government. Part of this strategy involves his role in the Maryland Democratic Central Committee, where he will concentrate on next year's gubernatorial election.
New grads are stepping into a job market tougher than the one those who graduated last year faced, but even those who managed to secure internships or jobs admitted that DEI rollbacks remained a burden.
"DEI has been politicized to imply that if you're Black, you don't deserve a job," a Syracuse University student commented anonymously due to fear of professional repercussions.
During his summer internship, this student grapples with weighing future job opportunities. Although the internship's company boasts commitments to diversity and inclusion in job listings, he worries such explicit statements may vanish, accompanied by a lack of support for Black workers.
The cuts to funding for research projects make opportunities sparse for new graduates. Grey Snyder, a psychology major at the University of Missouri at Columbia, experienced this firsthand. With the uncertainty around grant funding due to Trump's DEI executive order, Snyder was informed that a lab position for their gap year was not guaranteed.
In the world of academia and professions, Daniel Catalan, a professional resume writer, advises students to avoid using certain words, such as "Black," "BIPOC," and "DEI," as they could raise red flags under the Trump DEI directives. Victoria Pearson, a senior at Howard University, laughed at the suggestion of omitting her alma mater from her resume because it is a historically Black university.
Pearson believes in being true to herself and wants to work where she feels valued, stating, "I'm not going to change anything. I want to be where I'm wanted." The Syracuse graduate agrees, choosing to keep all his accomplishments on his resume, including his membership with the National Association of Black Journalists.
Louise Ross, a director of internships, scholarships, and mentorships with college prep community and coaching platform College Bound Parenting, encourages creative job search methods. Ross advises students to harness their entrepreneurial skills, connect with community organizations, contact alumni, and leverage connections to the Divine Nine network of Black fraternities and sororities.
Ross lifts up resilience, stating, "We've weathered harder storms. These kids survived Covid. They can weather 'D, E, and I.'"
Key Concepts Incorporated:
- Government cuts to workforce and DEI initiatives
- Trump Administration and DEI initiatives
- Impact on first-generation college students
- Job market downturn for new college graduates
- DEI rollbacks, decrease in job opportunities for Black workers
- Mentoring and career preparation for Black students
- Personal career decisions and adaptations
- Entrepreneurship and networking for job search
- Collaboration with Divine Nine network of Black fraternities and sororities
- Resilience in the face of adversity during a challenging job market
- The Trump administration's budget cuts and perceived dismissal of diversity-and-inclusion (DEI) initiatives have led some new graduates, like Dez Rosier, to shift their careers from federal roles to grassroots politics.
- The job market for new college graduates is showing signs of DEI rollbacks, diminished recruitment enthusiasm for Black workers, and a cooling-down in hiring overall, as evidenced by the increased unemployment rate for these graduates.
- In the world of academia and professions, the Trump administration's DEI directives have led some to avoid using certain words, such as "Black," "BIPOC," and "DEI," fearing they could raise red flags.
- To navigate this challenging job market, students are advised to harness their entrepreneurial skills, connect with community organizations, contact alumni, and leverage connections to the Divine Nine network of Black fraternities and sororities. Resilience is emphasized as a crucial trait for these new graduates.
