By William Coffman, Opinions & Editorials Editor

Today from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cintas Center is hosting dozens of companies for Xavier’s Spring 2025 career fair. However, the career fair is taking place during a time when many businesses are not as interested in hiring recently graduated students.

“Unfortunately, a lack of soft skills among younger workers is leading companies to hire fewer college graduates,” Forbes.com reported. As for the specific reasons of these developments, USA Today reported some ideas. 

“Unemployment rates for recent college graduates have been outpacing unemployment rates for all workers at 5.3% compared to 4%, according to data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,” USA Today reported.

The uncertain job market was reflected in the planning of this year’s career fair. Associate Director of the Career Development Office Matescia Stroud spoke with the Student Government Association about the logistics in preparing for the career fair this year and discussed some of the difficulties that came with it. 

“The career fair has been a struggle for us this year,” Stroud told the Senate. 

One particular reason for the struggle this year comes from federal agencies. Stroud mentioned that typically 12 to 15 agencies are present at the fair. This year’s fair will see only one. The federal workforce this year has seen reductions in employment in part because of layoffs from Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives with the goal to shrink the federal workforce. 

One such initiative is a proposal from President Donald Trump’s White House, which offered federal employees the option to resign in exchange for benefits such as paid leave. 

“According to the Office of Personnel Management, about 75,000 federal employees had accepted the offer as of Feb. 12,” Associated Press stated. 

With agencies in the midst of responding to these new initiatives, filling positions may not be at the top of these organizations’ priorities. Stroud noted that partner schools have shared this problem, and the difficulties Xavier experienced this year are occurring at other schools. 

 Although the career fair may lack the usual number of federal agencies, students can still attend and network with more local and regional companies. Employers like the City of Cincinnati and Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the city offer a chance for students to network with and learn about positions and internships close to campus. 

Stroud’s report to the senate focused largely on what the Career Development Office was doing to prepare students for this event. The offices encourage students to take advantage of their resources, including mock interviews, resume workshops, headshots and other programs. “Our whole goal is to help you be successful in all your career options,” Stroud said.