# New York City higher education and youth employment trends > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/new-york-city-higher-education-and-youth-employment-trends > Updated: 2026-10-12T21:27:41.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. Data indicates a decline in educational and employment stability for young residents in New York City. Graduation rates at the City University of New York (CUNY) have fallen over a five-year period, with associate degree rates dropping from 38.9% in 2022 to 35.5% in 2026, and four-year undergraduate rates decreasing from 62% to 55.6%. CUNY officials attributed these declines to changes in freshman class composition and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, while former trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld cited a ‘two-pronged problem’ involving declining public school standards and relaxed academic requirements. Compounding these educational trends, unemployment among New York City residents aged 22 to 27 with college degrees reached 7.3% in March 2026, surpassing the 7.1% unemployment rate for peers without degrees. Comptroller Mark Levine noted that unemployment for college-educated youth has risen steadily since spring 2024, suggesting that artificial intelligence may be disrupting white-collar industries. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-12: New York City college graduates face higher unemployment than non-degree holders Young college graduates in New York City now face higher unemployment rates than those without degrees, a trend officials suggest may be linked to AI disruption in white-collar sectors. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-city-college-graduates-face-higher-unemployment-than-non-degree-holders ### 2026-09-27: City University of New York graduation rates decline by 10% Graduation rates at the City University of New York have dropped nearly 10% over five years, affecting both community colleges and four-year undergraduate programs. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/city-university-of-new-york-graduation-rates-decline-by-10 --- Cite as: New York City higher education and youth employment trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/new-york-city-higher-education-and-youth-employment-trends