Palantir Bets on High School Talent, Citing college System’s Declining Value
DENVER, CO – In a bold move challenging the traditional hiring pipeline, data analytics firm Palantir Technologies has bypassed the college route, directly hiring 22 high school students, according to recent reports. The decision underscores a growing skepticism surrounding the value of a four-year degree, as concerns mount over rising tuition costs, student debt, adn the relevance of college curricula in a rapidly evolving job market.
The move comes as public confidence in higher education wanes. Recent data from the Pew Research Center reveals a growing share of Americans believe the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction.A significant 55% of Americans rate colleges and universities poorly in preparing students for well-paying jobs, signaling widespread discontent as entry-level opportunities diminish and fields like computer science face disruption from artificial intelligence.
This shift in viewpoint is particularly acute for recent graduates. As of July, 58% of students who graduated from college in the past year were still seeking stable employment, a stark contrast to the 25% of millennials and Gen Xers who experienced similar difficulties, according to a report by Kickresume. Hiring among the 15 largest tech companies has plummeted by over 50% since 2019, as reported by VC firm SignalFire.
The financial strain on young adults further exacerbates the issue. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found the average Gen Zer carries over $94,000 in personal debt, significantly higher than the roughly $60,000 owed by millennials and $53,000 by Gen Xers. Gen Z has also experienced the steepest annual credit score drop of any age group as 2020, with their average FICO score falling three points to 676 – 39 points below the national average of 715, according to FICO data.
