English 2: AI competing with college grads

labor conditions

working conditions

to deteriorate

to become worse

to mint

to produce (e.g., graduates)

ominous

suggesting something bad will happen

to bunker down

to prepare for difficulty

plausible

possible / believable

a layoff

job loss

to plunge

to fall quickly

the upshot

the result

skepticism

doubt

to warrant

to justify / deserve

negligible

very small

entry-level workers

beginners in a job

short-term economic drag

temporary negative effect on the economy

application

job request / use of something

hardship

difficulty

college graduate

person who finished university

hiring freeze

stopping new hiring

job openings

available jobs

to crowd out

to replace / push out