Some employers worried about hiring pro-Palestine student protestors, survey

The recent wave of pro-Palestine student protests across colleges is making employers cautious about hiring recent graduates, signaling a tough job market for the class of 2024.

A recent survey of 1,268 business leaders by Intelligent.com found that over 64% (3 out of 10) are concerned about hiring grads from the last five years.

Notably, 22% are reluctant to hire people who participated in pro-Palestine protests. They fear these graduates might be confrontational or too political in the workplace.

Meanwhile, 21% prefer hiring them for their strong values and outspokenness.

Overall, 57% of employers are neutral about hiring protesters.

In job interviews, 31% of employers might ask about protest involvement, but 54% rarely do.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has sparked several protests at colleges across the US. More than 2,900 people have been arrested or detained on campuses, according to the New York Times.