Remote Work Drives Youth Unemployment
Analysis based on 30 articles · First reported Jun 01, 2026 · Last updated Jun 11, 2026
The study by the United States — Federal Reserve Bank of New York suggests that the rise of remote work is a significant factor in the increased unemployment rate for recent college graduates, rather than artificial intelligence. This could lead to a re-evaluation of hiring practices and remote work policies by companies, potentially impacting the labor market for entry-level positions and the long-term career progression of young workers.
A study by the United States — Federal Reserve Bank of New York, led by research economist Natalia Emanuel, concludes that the rise of remote work since the pandemic is the primary driver of higher unemployment rates for recent college graduates. The study found that unemployment among young college graduates in 'remotable' jobs rose by about 1 percentage point from 2017-2019 to 2022-2024, while older workers in those fields saw a slight decline. This trend is attributed to businesses' reluctance to hire and train inexperienced workers remotely. The study also found that artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, had little impact on youth unemployment, challenging a common perception. The findings are consistent with a 'low-hire, low-fire' job market and are supported by similar conclusions from the London School of Economics.
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