NEW YORK – Growing up as the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica, Stacey Watson didn’t see herself in the characters of the books she read. Now 28, she wants to be a book editor who helps promote a more diverse range of story protagonists so her nieces and other young people feel represented.

But an entry-level job in publishing has proven elusive. Two years after earning her master’s degree, with four internships and several part-time jobs under her belt, Watson hasn’t landed a full-time staff position. She lives with her parents in Brooklyn to make ends meet.

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“You’re hoping every year is the year you can tell your parents, ‘I got the full-time job, you don’t have to worry about me anymore,’” she said.

Watson's experience echoes the difficulties facing many j

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