Scams, silence, rejection: US job seekers describe ‘depressing’ work prospects

Qualified candidates struggle in a sluggish market due to Trump tariffs, AI screening and vanishing entry-level roles

When Philip Kowalski lost his job earlier this year as a USAID contractor working on aid to Ukraine due to Doge cuts, he was confident in his credentials: a master's degree from the University of London and years of hands-on experience managing American foreign aid contracts that he thought would help him land on his feet.

Instead, he found himself adrift in what he calls a massive pool of unemployed people who are highly qualified all competing for the same tiny pool of available jobs".