Black College Graduates Confront Job Market Challenges Amid DEI Rollbacks

Howard University senior Dezmond Rosier had high hopes of starting his career in the federal government, aiming for a position at the Department of Education. However, the Trump administration’s cuts to the department’s workforce and rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives led him to rethink his path. “I can’t really be a part of something that I don’t feel that I’m wanted in,” Rosier said, explaining his decision to shift focus to local and state politics in Maryland, where he serves on the Maryland Democratic Central Committee. He plans to concentrate on the state’s 2025 gubernatorial election, leveraging his grassroots experience.

Rosier’s concerns reflect broader challenges facing recent Black graduates. Walter Pearson, CEO of College Bound Parenting, noted that while he typically helps 90% of his students secure jobs, this year that number has dropped to just 50%. The labor market is tightening, with the unemployment rate for new college graduates at 5.8% as of March, up from 4.6% a year earlier, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This decline is compounded by what many graduates see as a chilling effect on DEI efforts.

Victoria Pearson, a Howard senior studying media, journalism, and film, is choosing to stand firm in her identity, despite the perceived risks. She recalled a friend suggesting omitting references to their HBCU on résumés to avoid bias but rejected the idea. “I’m not going to change anything,” Pearson said. “I want to be where I’m wanted.”

Others, like Grey Snyder, a University of Missouri psychology major, have faced even more direct consequences. Snyder, who uses they/them pronouns, said they struggled to find a lab position for a gap year due to funding cuts linked to Trump’s DEI directives. “It’s really affecting psychological sciences specifically, though, and any research about minorities or underprivileged populations,” Snyder said, describing the uncertain funding landscape.

For students navigating this challenging environment, College Bound Parenting director Louise Ross encourages resilience. “We’ve survived worse things,” Ross said. “These kids survived Covid. They certainly can survive D, E and I.”

Link: NBCNews