Job climate remains bleak for new graduates

Springtime graduation ceremonies have been taking place across the country, but while the weather may be starting to improve, the climate in the job market for new grads remains particularly bleak.RNZ has attended a number of ceremonies over the past few days and students spoken to by RNZ were largely pessimistic about their job prospects.High unemployment, AI and a highly-competitive job market mean many are picking up jobs completely unrelated to their degrees - if they're lucky enough to find work at all.Chloe Cameron is among them. Last week she picked up her degree in Environmental Science and Biology from the University of Auckland, but isn't feeling optimistic about her near-term career prospects."No-one's even sending rejections they're just leaving you empty," she said.She's going to go and work on her parents' blueberry farm while she continues to looks for work in her chosen field.After four years of hard graft, Vittoria Strother is delighted to be graduating with a Bachelor of Advance Science, Psychology. Not so delighted with the state of the job market for new grads."It's just not very promising, is it? You know, you spend all that time trying to study and then, there's not much out there."Occasionally she'll get a response to an application, but mostly she she just gets "ghosted".And, she said, she has to be innovative to get her CV past the AI bots that she believes are screening her applications."[I use] lots of key words that they'd be looking for. Just like, 'resourceful', 'adaptive' - whatever you think they might like."Veronika Kanem who has just completed a PhD in Pacific Studies is also struggling to find a job.RNZ / Matthew TheunissenVittoria's mum, Alison, worries what the future holds for her daughter and her generation."When you see her send off about 40, 50 applications and get maybe three replies, it's terrifying for her."It's not a waste of time because you've learned so much, but will she be able to use it? Or is it more study?"Not to mention the money - "too much money to even think about", Vittoria said.Abby Brooking has been unsuccessfully looking for a job since April, having completed a post-graduate diploma in primary teaching."I went into this field because I thoroughly enjoy education and I think there's something to be said about making a difference for future generations, but I am struggling to find a job at the moment," she said."Considering the government is saying that they're crying out for teachers, like they are for nurses as well, I think it is because the schools and the hospitals aren't giving opportunities to people without experience and they're taking on people with experience instead."Abby Brooking has been looking for a job since April after completing a post-graduate diploma in primary teaching.RNZ / Matthew TheunissenRNZ also spoke to a number of international students who had wanted to stay on to work here but say they're lucky if their applications even get a response. Emma He is moving back to China where she has been able to find work having completed a degree in Information Technology."I think maybe I can gain some work experience in China and then come back here. I want to because I have a three year work visa."Rosa Kwon has just completed a conjoint degree in Law and Arts."People did tell me that it wasn't going to be easy but I didn't really believe it," she said."I'm really seeing it now - it's not easy."Artificial intelligence is expected to have a big impact on graduates wanting to get into the legal profession, something Rosa has certainly noticed."I've had interviews where they've asked me, 'do you use AI?' and as a non-AI user they've told me, 'Well, we expect some level of AI usage'. It's pretty shocking."Rob Deacon, who's graduating with a Masters in Information Technology, feels very fortunate because he secured an internship which resulted in a job offer."In previous years I think pretty much everyone on the course got an internship but now it's a lot more tricky. I think out of our entire course, I think 20 people got one [out of] maybe 150."Veronika Kanem has just completed a PhD in Pacific Studies - a degree she started in 2021. It's tough in the academic workspace, too, she said."Honestly, it's very hard. I tried to apply for post-doctoral several times but I wasn't successful. Apart from the academic environment I also tried to apply for other roles but wasn't successful," she said.According to employment website Seek, advertisements for graduate jobs made up just over 2 percent of the overall share of jobs on the site last month.In a statement, it said the unemployment rate in New Zealand is high by historical standards, so grads are competing with other grads as well as those with work experience.Student Job Search chief executive Louise Saviker said New Zealand's labour market remains challenging, particularly for young people. However, there are tentative signs of improvement in employer demand, with MBIE's Jobs Online measure showing online job advertisements increasing 7 percent over the year to June 2026.