"If I was rejected from that position, my chances of finding a job after graduation were slim. I really needed a more impressive resume", Weston-Edwards said.

The former University of Leeds student, from England, is among thousands of young people in Europe and the United States betting on a master's degree to navigate the toughest job market in decades.

Data shows that law school applications in the US this year have increased by 32% compared to the average of the past 4 years. In Europe, a survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) indicates that three-quarters of master’s in business programs saw a surge in applicants compared to last year.

Experts point to several reasons. In England, rising payroll taxes and a high minimum wage make businesses hesitant to hire new staff. Meanwhile, recent graduates face the growing risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

Youth unemployment in England is at its highest level since 2015. Over half a million people seeking work have left the labor market to pursue further education; students now account for over one-quarter of unemployed individuals eager to find opportunities.

As a result, enrollment in master’s courses in England increased by 8% for the 2024-2025 academic year. Highly practical specializations such as finance are the most attractive. For instance, Bayes Business School in London saw applications increase by nearly 10% and expects this trend to continue significantly.

The increase in class sizes has also driven demand for faculty recruitment. On LinkedIn, "university lecturer" was the third fastest-growing job this year, surpassing positions like machine learning researcher or investment broker.

The situation on the European continent is similar. Lauren Amdor, 23, is preparing to study for a master's in diplomacy at Sciences Po in Paris this August. She hopes to benefit from the 6-month internship program and the school's career mentorship network, which includes faculty members who are working professionals.

"It’s much easier to get career support as a student than to navigate the job market on your own", she stated.

Students at the University of Leeds, England. Photo: University Fanpage

However, experts warn that new master’s graduates will enter a very different world than when they enrolled, especially with the boom of AI. For example, in the US, a law degree, once a "guaranteed stamp" for a career, is now becoming uncertain. Law school deans admit that the job market for the graduating class of 2029 could change completely.

"Nothing frustrates students faster than feeling they've been misled about career prospects", according to James Leipold, senior advisor at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Meanwhile, Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of LexisNexis, warns that the US has reached a "saturation" point in legal sector recruitment. Managers at large law firms predict that even with an increase in workload, they will maintain or reduce staff numbers by leveraging AI.

Despite the gloomy job market, Weston-Edwards finds comfort in being in a position to "choose his school", getting accepted wherever he applied. When selecting where to enroll, he no longer cared much about the academic content or course structure. The only question he focused on was whether he would find a job after graduation.

"The ability to find a job is the number one factor. Many people are pursuing master's degrees now because the market situation is so bad, not necessarily because of a passion for deeper research", Weston-Edwards observed.

Khanh Linh (According to Bloomberg, MSN)