NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Students are graduating into a job market they can’t see, and it can’t see them either. New data from Authority Intelligence™ platform Lilypath shows that the majority of students score below 39 out of 100 on their own AI Readiness Score, placing the company in the ‘Blank Slate’ scale. Translation: the automated systems that now sit between graduates and recruiters can barely register them.
The finding comes at a precarious time for both students and the institutions that prepare them. Recent U.S. college graduates faced an unemployment rate of 5.8% in 2025, the worst in more than a decade after the pandemic, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. And 42.5% were underemployed and worked in jobs that did not require their degree. At the same time, nearly all Fortune 500 employers (99%) now use AI-powered applicant tracking systems to filter candidates before a human ever reviews a resume, according to Jobscan.
“Students are doing everything they’re supposed to do: preparing resumes, working with career centers, gaining experience, but the hiring process among them has changed,” said Erin Lanuti, co-founder and CEO of Lilypath. “If AI can’t understand who you are, you don’t qualify. We’re teaching the next generation how to be seen by the systems that now shape their future.”
Why this is a university and student problem
Career services as traditionally structured no longer translate into AI placement readiness. Colleges that fail to address AI visibility face declining placement results, a metric that directly impacts institutional reputation, U.S. News rankings, and recruitment of the next class. In an era when families are increasingly prioritizing ROI over tuition, weak employment numbers are rapidly increasing.
“As a faculty member, I see firsthand how unclear the job search has become for students,” said John Murphy, assistant professor in-residence of Digital Media Business Strategies at the University of Connecticut. “Lilypath brings much-needed clarity and gives students the tools to take control of how they show up in an increasingly AI-driven hiring landscape.”
The ‘blank slate’ finding
Lilypath’s AI Readiness Score evaluates LinkedIn profiles, the front door that most recruiters and AI sourcing tools now use, into five categories that determine how AI systems rank and advance candidates. When applied to students, the pattern was consistent and clear: most are not underperforming on LinkedIn, but are actually absent from it.
“It’s shocking to us how low their scores are, and the enormous opportunity cost that entails,” Lanuti said. “These are experienced, highly capable students. They are simply invisible to the algorithm.”
What Lilypath delivers
Lilypath is a patent-pending Authority Intelligence™ platform that determines how AI systems interpret professional credibility and expertise. For students, the platform produces a personalized blueprint with:
- An AI Readiness Score (0–100), compared to peers and industry
- Diagnosis by section for Heading, About, Experience and Skills
- Copy-ready rewrites that students can implement immediately
- Strategic positioning guidance tailored to the student’s career goals
The experience is built for speed: a 5-minute intake, a personalized blueprint, and clear, actionable guidance to update the LinkedIn profile.
University pilots are already underway
Lilypath is working with colleges and universities to integrate AI visibility into career readiness curricula, with initial pilot programs targeted at graduating seniors. Universities interested in pilot participation can contact Lilypath directly.
“AI is now between students and opportunities,” Lanuti added. “The institutions that recognize this first will help their graduates secure real jobs and protect the placement outcomes on which their reputations depend.”
Students can learn more and access Lilypath’s student offerings at lilypath.com/student. Universities interested in pilot programs can contact Lilypath at [email protected].
About Lilypath
Lilypath is a patent-pending Authority Intelligence™ platform that helps individuals understand how AI systems interpret and represent their professional identities. Through an AI Readiness Score of 0–100, section-by-section diagnostics and out-of-the-box recommendations, Lilypath empowers students, professionals and executives to improve their visibility, credibility and positioning in an AI-mediated world. Learn more at lilypath.com.
Media contact
Joanne Denyeau, Hotwire
[email protected] | 201-600-0208
