From Pittsburgh to professional life: Where are college graduates now?

What’s it like to be a college graduate these days? It depends on who you ask.Recent graduates have navigated a life-changing pandemic. Some entered the workforce during a time of high inflation. Many took on student loans and saw an ambitious debt-relief plan blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. Some don’t want a typical office job. Others say artificial intelligence is changing the job market and climate change has altered their plans.All these factors are shaping recent graduates’ career paths and attitudes about the job market. Still, young workers with bachelor’s degrees have a consistently lower unemployment rate than those without, and older degree-holders see even lower rates. Workers with bachelor’s degrees also tend to earn more over the course of their careers.PublicSource spoke with 12 alumni of Pittsburgh’s colleges and universities to learn how they’re navigating their entrance into the workforce or their first years within it. Finding the right job –– or any job –– has been stressful for some, but several have found work that brings them passion or satisfaction.Most students attended the University of Pittsburgh, which enrolls more students than any other local school. Below are their stories, edited for brevity and clarity: I grew up...