Landon Shimske, a University of Arizona chemical engineering senior, is about to graduate.
He has been applying to dozens of jobs, but so far hasn’t gotten any interviews.
“It is shocking that being a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) major that it is so hard to get a job now,” Shimske said.
“I meet a lot of the qualifications on the postings and have the experience. I don’t know why I’m not moving forward in the process with some of these companies,” he added. “It is funny because we were told around a decade ago that STEM is the way to go. Now I can’t get an interview.”
Shimske, who wants to go into the nuclear field, also has had to navigate federal government downsizing. At one time, the federal government was a prime landing spot for people with Shimske’s skill set.
But under the Trump administration, those jobs have been dramatically reduced. In February the National Nuclear Security Administration eliminated 350 positions; 2,000 were cut from the Energy Department.
Senior chemical engineer Gabe Lowery was in the same position as Shimske, finding little response to jobs he was applying for in the food and beverage sector.
Lowery applied to more than 40 jobs, went on six different interviews and participated in two career fairs before finally landing a job.
“I think the most frustrating part of the whole application process is when you don’t even hear back from them,” Lowery said. “I’d rather receive 100 rejection letters than be ghosted by them.”
But the overall job picture in Arizona for UA, ASU and NAU graduates is far more optimistic than Shimsky and Lowery’s experiences.
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunities’ most recent employment projections shows growth in a number of industries including construction, which is expected to add nearly 4,000 jobs by 2026; and education and health services, which could see more than 15,000 new jobs in addition to the 15,000 added since 2024.
The state sees one of the biggest employment jumps happening in the self-employment section, which could jump 2.2% to 11,000 over the span of 2024-26, according to the state’s report.
Graduates seeking jobs in the information sector including communications could face the same experiences as Shimske and Lowery. The industry is facing a 1.2% hiring decline statewide, but the industry as a whole is expected to rebound through 2033 with some 3,000 new jobs.
In the state’s long-term projections, natural resources and mining jobs are declining, with a projected loss of 1,400 jobs over the next eight years.
Nationwide, though, employers across the board are looking at hiring more workers, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers reporting. Nearly 90% of employers reported that they are increasing or maintaining hiring levels for the class of 2025 in comparison to the class of 2024, according to the association’s jobs outlook released this spring.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism
