'Why can't new grads find jobs?': Curley's theory on the devaluation of college degrees
mynorthwest.com
College degrees once unlocked careers — now new grads can't find jobs, and one theory says the credential itself has been inflated into worthlessness.
Credential InflationSignaling TheoryHuman Capital TheoryArms Race Dynamics
Theory Briefing
- When nearly everyone holds a degree, employers stop treating it as a signal of ability or effort, eroding its hiring power.
- New grads entering the job market face a paradox: more education than ever before, yet weaker prospects than prior generations.
- The credential arms race pushes workers to spend more on degrees that return less, while employers quietly raise the bar again.