The unemployment rate among graduates from Texas universities has risen, and the development of AI has raised concerns about employment opportunities.
On September 2, 2026, the British “Financial Times” reported that the unemployment rate among graduates from Texas universities had risen to an unusually high level. Research shows that since the release of ChatGPT in 2023, job opportunities in AI-intensive industries in the state decreased by approximately 8% in the first quarter of 2025, and employment for young knowledge workers declined significantly. At the same time, Texas became the state with the most underconstruction data centers in the United States, with demand for electricity from the power grid soaring from 48 gigawatts in 2023 to over 474 gigawatts. Governor Abbott initially supported the construction of new data centers, but due to public opposition and the approaching midterm elections, he suspended the connection of new data centers to the power grid in August 2026. Experts point out that AI is reshaping labor demand, but the actual extent of substitution remains uncertain, and workers’ confidence has been significantly affected.