Despite free speech supposedly legally allowing protests and demonstrations there is still a real risk of being imprisoned.
My point is even "free speech" is not total free speech in the United States for example. There are still compromises in free speech so we may preserve order. Allowing free speech to that extent lets these movements flourish.
I faced that for an extended time after graduating with a Bachelor's. There were so many jobs asking for impossible experience, or jobs vaguely related to my field at exploitative pay that required a Bachelor's. I did manage to find a decent job (still shit pay) but only because of a connection.
For my college, tuition would not be impossible with an ok job. When I read the headline I read it more as younger people seeing college as a scamthat can't even get you a job after the ordeal of all the schoolwork and money lost.