Exclusive: Job-seekers are applying to twice as many jobs this year than they did in 2024 , as “ghost jobs,” AI agents, and a fiercely competitive labor market throw a wrench in the American Dream. And master’s students are having a rough go at it, as they’re sending out up to 60 applications per month, compared to bachelor graduates applying to around 38 roles. With graduates frozen out of the workforce, many are left questioning if their degrees were a “waste of money.”

Going to college and getting a degree was once a ticket to white-collar success—but now graduates are up against “ghost jobs,” AI agents, and a fiercely competitive labor market. Job-seekers are sending out applications in droves to try and land a gig, and even people with multiple degrees are having a hard time

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