By KYLE HOYT
BGSU Public Good News Lab
When Connor Bihn graduated in 2024 from the University of Toledo, he was hired right here in Wood County as a process assistant in the quality department at Amazon.
But many recent college graduates looking for work both in northwest Ohio and across the country haven’t been as lucky.
The unemployment rate for college graduates in Ohio has increased from 4% in 2023 to nearly 6% in 2026, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The landscape is similar nationally, with a 5.6% unemployment rate among 22–27-year-old college graduates, according to The Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Much of the decline is in entry-level jobs, driven partially by the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), which has replaced many task-oriented positions that were formerly held by entry-level applicants.
2026 data from BGSU’s Office of State and Federal Compliance and Non-Discrimination shows that 72% of BGSU alumni reported employment after graduation. Data from the University of Toledo shows that 42.5% of the university’s 2025 graduates were employed full-time, while another 24.95% were still seeking employment.
How successful alumni from both local universities were in finding employment varied based on their area of study. The BGSU study shows that engineering majors are finding the most success upon graduation, reporting a 91.5% employment rate—the highest of any degree program. On the opposite side, foreign language majors reported the lowest employment rate at 28.8%.
When graduates do find employment, they are staying in Ohio upon graduation. 86% of recent BGSU graduates reported finding employment in Ohio.
Data shows Amazon is the number one place of employment for recent BGSU graduates, with four healthcare-related workplaces in the top 10, most notably Cleveland Clinic.
Graduates at Amazon are finding jobs in markets such as software development, operations management, cloud computing and corporate business functions. Locally, Amazon has two warehouses: one in Rossford and the other in Toledo.
Bihn, who works at the Rossford Amazon facility, said his education helped him land his current job.
“Typically, when new graduates come to Amazon, they come in as area managers. These positions are held by a combination of college graduates, external hires or associates who excel at their current level,” said Bihn. “To get into this role without education, at least two years of experience at Amazon is required with at least one promotion previously.”
Amazon also appeals to students during college and offers tuition reimbursement.
“Amazon provides up to $6,000 per year towards tuition and offers tools to set employees up at a college to pursue a degree. Many students take advantage of this opportunity and often grow their careers at Amazon after graduation,” Bihn said.
BGSU also offers its Life Design program to help students explore career paths within their interests ahead of graduation. The Kuhlin Center also provides students with an introduction to the university’s industry partners, leading to internships and partnerships to prepare students after graduation.
