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It's An Exceptionally Bad Time To Be A Recent College Grad

It's An Exceptionally Bad Time To Be A Recent College Grad
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By 

Associate Business Editor, The Huffington Post

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Those sad stories of 20-somethings with college degrees toiling away at service jobs in restaurants, coffee shops and department stores are more than just colorful anecdotes. It's truly a terrible time for recent college graduates to find jobs, according to data released by the New York Fed on Wednesday.

While recent college grads have always struggled to find work suited to their degrees, the share of unemployed and underemployed young people has been rising since 2001 and spiked over the past few years, thanks to The Great Recession, the report found.

College Graduates' Unemployment Rate Is Highest In 20+ Years
The share of unemployed recent college graduates in 2009 - 2011 was higher than it's been over the past two decades:

Their Underemployment Rate Is Also Highest In Decades
Many recent college grads who do have jobs are working in fields that don't require their degree:

It Could Be Worse?
While recent college grads may not be putting their degrees to use, they're still better off than their counterparts without a degree:

Before You Go

Fast-Growing Jobs That Don't Require A Bachelor Degree
10. Glaziers(01 of10)
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Annual earnings: $37,350Percent growth: 42.2 percentAnnual openings: 3,340 (credit:AP)
9. Physical Therapist Aides(02 of10)
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Annual earnings: $23,680Percent growth: 43.2 percentAnnual openings: 2,760 (credit:AP)
8. Occupational Therapy Assistants(03 of10)
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Annual earnings: $52,040Percent growth: 43.2 percentAnnual openings: 1,680 (credit:AP)
7. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers(04 of10)
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Annual earnings: $65,210Percent growth: 43.6 percentAnnual openings: 3,170 (credit:AP)
6. Helpers – Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, Steamfitters (05 of10)
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Annual earnings: $27,010Percent growth: 45.4 percentAnnual openings: 4,170 (credit:AP)
5. Physical Therapist Assistants(06 of10)
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Annual earnings: $51,040Percent growth: 45.7 percentAnnual openings: 4,120 (credit:AP)
4. Reinforcing Iron And Rebar Workers(07 of10)
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Annual earnings: $37,990Percent growth: 48.7 percentAnnual openings: 1,320 (credit:AP)
3. Veterinary Technologists And Technicians(08 of10)
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Annual earnings: $30,140Percent growth: 52.0 percentAnnual openings: 5,570 (credit:AP)
2. Helpers – Carpenters(09 of10)
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Annual earnings: $26,400Percent growth: 55.7 percentAnnual openings: 3,820 (credit:AP)
1. Helpers – Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, Tilers(10 of10)
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Annual earnings: $27,820Percent growth: 59.9 percentAnnual openings: 2,540 (credit:AP)
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