Workers, especially those with a college degree, think the job market is awful, a recent Gallup analysis finds.

Why it matters: Although the unemployment rate is relatively low at the moment, hiring has slowed a lot, particularly for professionals.

• Deteriorating worker sentiment can signal that things are about to get much worse.
• "Workers with higher levels of formal education were markedly less optimistic about the job market in 2025 than those with less schooling," writes Sarah Fioroni, a senior research consultant at Gallup.

What they're saying: "Most educated people I know are pretty freaked about what AI means for their jobs," says Martha Gimbel, executive director and cofounder of the Budget Lab at Yale.

• "We can argue about whether or not that's going to happen, but that's not what fear is about."

The big picture: Labor market stress is just one of many looming known unknowns in a chaotic moment for the economy and markets.

• Oil prices are climbing; a private credit tantrum is in play, and AI disruption is everywhere.

By the numbers: In separate polling of U.S. adults from Gallup, conducted from Jan. 2-17, just 27% of college grads said now is a good time to find a quality job, compared with 44% of those who didn't graduate from college.

• That's the widest gap on record going back to 2001.
• Until 2024, those with more advanced degrees were more optimistic.

Sentiment among the college-educated about the job market is at its lowest since 2013.

Between the lines: The critical factor to watch is the hiring rate. Outside of the blip we had during the pandemic, hiring is at its worst level since 2013, per federal data.

Where it stands: In white-collar industries — like software development, marketing and communications — hiring is even worse, says Cory Stahle, an economist at Indeed, the jobs site.

• Job listings in manufacturing, meanwhile, are up. So are help wanted ads for doctors. "You see a real bifurcation," Stahle says.

Keep reading

Three distinct camps are forming around AI: power users, doubters and resisters.

Why it matters: AI isn't just advancing — it's fragmenting how people see the world.

The big picture: The disconnect is showing up everywhere — from job-loss fears to data center protests to actual violence.

• Doubters still see AI as glitchy chatbots and viral fails. They aren't using its full capabilities.
• Power users run AI agents around the clock, trading tips on how to automate work and decision-making.
• Resisters understand AI, think they know where it's headed and want no part of it.

💭 Your thought bubble: We want to know which camp you fall into.

• Is AI a regular part of your everyday life? How do you use it?
• Do you use it infrequently?
• Or have you sworn it off entirely? Tell us why.

Hit reply on this email or click here and let us know. We may use your response in an upcoming story.

Read more

⚖️ A federal district court judge ruled this week that an Oregon law requiring health insurers to cover abortion was unconstitutional. (OPB)

👟 TEDxPortland founder and former Nike creative director David Rae announced plans to open a sneaker museum in Portland. (The Oregonian)

🛫 Spiking airfare prices, prompted by rising jet fuel costs, are leading some Portland travelers to book their air travel much earlier than usual. (KGW)

🚧 Portland city councilors appear set to approve a fee increase for contractors who cut into pavement to lay pipes or wire, which would raise an estimated $22 million annually for the city's struggling transportation department. (OPB)

Nearly half of college students say they've thought about changing their major because of AI's potential impact, according to newly released polling.

The big picture: College graduates are entering a job market that's been rocked by a massive tech evolution, reshaping career prospects for entry-level workers, per a new survey from Lumina Foundation and Gallup.

By the numbers: Among currently enrolled college students, 14% have thought "a great deal" and 33% have thought "a fair amount" about changing their major or field of study because of how AI may affect the job market, the polling found.

• 16% of students have changed their major because of the impact AI might have, a trend that is higher among men (21%) than women (12%) and in vocational (26%) and tech (25%) majors.

What they're saying: Christina Eid, an American University senior majoring in business administration, runs an annual survey on students' interactions with AI.

• In 2024, 12% of students said potential employers had asked them asked about their ability to use AI in the workplace, according to her survey business undergrad and grad students.
• In 2025, that stat hit 30%. In all of her own recent job interviews, Eid says she's been asked about her AI skills.

Go deeper