At age 40, Kenneth Ferraro quit his job as a truck driver to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science at New York University. He thought it would set him up for his dream job in public service, but three years later, a challenging job market has led him to scale back his search and return to trucking.
“After all my hard work and sacrifice, the only work that I have been able to secure is the same type of work that I have been doing my whole life,” he said.
Ferraro is one of many Americans who have struggled to find work in recent years. Since October, more than 800 recent job seekers have responded to Business Insider’s informal surveys on job hunting and shared their stories with reporters through emails and in interviews.
The struggles of unemployed Americans — and those looking to switch jobs — have been partly driven by a hiring slowdown in the US. Excluding a brief pandemic-related dip, US businesses are hiring at nearly the lowest rate since 2013, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Still, the unemployment rate remains relatively low.
Ferraro, who’s based in Texas, worked as a truck driver for decades. He said the job provided a stable income, but that he desired a different career. He thought going back to school was the best way to make this a reality.
“I traveled across the country, worked long hours, and was more than a little burned out,” the 46-year-old told Business Insider.
Despite applying for many government jobs over the past few years, Ferraro has had little luck. He said the only role he was able to land was a delivery driver position for a large beverage company — and he’s stuck with about $140,000 in student loan debt.
Last October, Ferraro started a new driving position at a restaurant supplier that pays about $30 an hour, similar to his prior job. However, he said he’s earning more because he works longer hours, about 50 a week. To reduce his spending, he said he’s postponing the purchase of a new vehicle, living in a one-bedroom apartment, and sticking to a “no-frills budget.”
While he hasn’t given up on finding a job in his field, he said it’s not worth investing too much time into the search until the hiring landscape improves.
“I have not lost hope, but I am reacting to the reality of the current job-seeking environment,” he said, adding, “I may not be excited about my current situation, but I am happy to be working at a job that allows me to support myself.”
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Over the past year, Ferraro has encountered new obstacles in his search for a government job. He said federal government staff cuts tied to the Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — in recent months have likely made his search even more competitive, as some former federal employees are now exploring local government roles.
“With so many more people in the market for a position in government, it is reasonable to believe that the threshold minimums for experience will increase,” he said.
Ferraro is also concerned that local government roles will face cuts in his state. He pointed to the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced in April. In a press release, the governor called the new office “our own DOGE.”
Older college graduates could struggle to land certain types of jobs
Ferraro always knew that pursuing a new career wouldn’t be easy. After completing his degree in 2022 at age 42, he was happy to spend six months interning for a local congressperson.
However, Ferraro’s struggles to find a full-time government job left him frustrated. While having a college degree improved his credentials, he thinks his age has held him back in the job market.
Ferraro recalled applying for an entry-level position in the office of a government official, a role he thought would be the “perfect” job for him to kick-start his new career. The early stages of the interview process seemed promising, but he said things changed when he had an in-person interview.
“As soon as the hiring manager saw me, his whole demeanor changed,” Ferraro said. “He ran through the questions and never truly engaged with me.”
A few weeks later, Ferraro learned that he was no longer being considered for the role.
Ferraro needed an income, so he reluctantly decided to expand his search to the truck driver jobs he’d hoped to escape.
But despite his decades of prior experience, Ferraro said he struggled to land an interview for driving jobs — a development that baffled him. But then he had an idea: What if he removed his college education from his résume when he applied?
“I did not start receiving interviews until I removed the education section on my application,” he said. “My degree was holding me back.”
As things stand, Ferraro said he regrets going to college. However, he still hopes that his education will eventually help him secure a government role.
In addition to his driving job, Ferraro said he’s working toward a master’s of criminal justice at the University of North Texas. He said he’s been paying the tuition as he goes to avoid taking on more student debt — and that he hopes the degree will boost his career prospects.
In the meantime, he’s waiting for the hiring landscape to shift in his favor.
“I will expand my efforts when the job market improves,” he said. “I still intend to pursue a position in my career field.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in July 2024 and updated with new information about Ferraro’s job search.
