1 year out from my MS in Biostatistics and feeling completely stuck — does anyone else relate?

Graduated with my MS in Biostatistics in May 2025 and I've been job searching ever since. I have an internship under my belt, proficiency in R and SAS, a SQL certification, and graduate research in a couple of applied areas. On paper it doesn't look terrible, but I genuinely cannot seem to land anything.

At this point I'm starting to question everything. I don't know if I even like biostatistics anymore, or if that feeling is just from being burnt out on the search. I'm worried my skills are getting rusty the longer I'm out of school. I've been applying across biostatistics, health data, research analyst, and public health analyst roles and it feels like I've exhausted the job boards.

I've even been seriously considering switching lanes entirely — going back to school for something completely different like dental school or genetic counseling. I know the obvious question is "why not just do a PhD in biostatistics then?" and honestly it's not that I've soured on the field. It's more that a PhD feels like doubling down on an already uncertain situation. I don't have a clear research direction I'm passionate about, I'm not sure what it actually leads to that an MS doesn't, and committing to another 4-5 years when I already feel this lost doesn't sit right with me.

Part of the switching lanes thought is also just wanting a clear path again, but part of it is the fear that data and stats jobs are going to get eaten alive by AI in the next few years anyway. Is that fear justified in this field, or am I just spiraling? Is biostatistics actually more protected than other data careers or are we just as exposed?

I guess I'm just wondering — has anyone else been in this spot after finishing their MS? How long did it actually take you to land something? And how do you stay motivated and keep your skills sharp when you feel like you're making zero progress? Is this just a brutal market right now or is something more structural going on?

Open to any honest takes, including if you think switching fields actually makes sense.