Underemployment Among US College Graduates Hits 42.5%—Highest Since 2020 Pandemic Peak

The claim cites a 42.5% underemployment rate among U.S. college graduates and states it is the highest level since the pandemic peak in 2020. The most authoritative source on employment statistics, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides detailed data on employment and underemployment trends, which can be used to confirm that underemployment rates are currently elevated for graduates. A credible academic journal analysis presents a 42.5% figure for U.S. underemployment among recent graduates, suggesting alignment with the statement. Additional supporting context from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis indicates that recent graduate labor market outcomes have worsened compared to previous years, consistent with the claim about a post-pandemic high. While some secondary sources are less authoritative, the convergence between the BLS dataset, academic findings, and Fed analysis strongly supports the accuracy of both the figure and the comparative claim to 2020's pandemic peak. There are no credible contradictory sources, and the information is consistent across multiple independent analyses. The probability assigned reflects minor uncertainty due to reliance on derived estimates and secondary reporting for the exact numerical comparison rather than a single official statistic directly stating both elements.