ZipRecruiter just came out with a new report
Overview of key findings
The Market
- Today’s grads face steeper competition than in past years, as entry-level postings make up a smaller share of available jobs and attract more interest
- Recent grads are landing jobs faster (77.2% within 3 months) through determination and adaptability: submitting more applications, applying for different types of roles, and taking on different kinds of work to get a foothold
- Grads fear AI is limiting entry-level jobs, and most schools aren’t preparing them for it
Breaking In
- Working during college more than doubles grads’ odds of landing a job
- Internships and apprenticeships are some of the clearest on-ramps into the workforce
- With more challenges in securing their first job, most grads are exploring non-corporate work, and over a third are considering entrepreneurship
Priorities and Payoffs
- Grads want employers who prioritize their well-being
- Nursing leads in pay and job placement; liberal arts grads are most likely to have regrets
After the Offer
- Despite working harder and securing roles faster, only 1 in 4 grads is on their dream career path
- Women enter the workforce earning 80 cents to every man’s dollar
Today’s grads face steeper competition than their predecessors
As the labor market has remained stalled for much of the last year, the entry-level job market is tightening. These roles are harder to find and more competitive right now than more senior positions. ZipRecruiter’s data shows that more job seekers are competing for entry-level positions, while fewer of the available jobs are actually entry-level. This means emerging talent faces more competition to get their foot in the door.
Graph One: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0KeMe/5/?wmode=opaque
Graph Two: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fXYQs/3/?wmode=opaque
As entry-level opportunities become harder to come by, ZipRecruiter’s survey of recent and rising grads, along with public data, shows young job seekers and students are feeling the pain across every part of the job search.
Despite the challenging conditions, the share of recent grads who landed a role within three months of graduating rose from 63.3% a year ago to 77.2% today, reflecting the work they’re putting in to break into the labor market. Grads are submitting more applications, receiving fewer offers, and having less say in where they end up than their peers from just a year prior. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that while the job market presents challenges for younger workers, a college degree appears to mitigate some difficulties for recent graduates. As of December 2025, young college graduates faced a 5.6% unemployment rate, higher than the 3.1% for all college-educated workers, but lower than the 7.8% rate for their same-aged peers overall. While youth and inexperience can be hurdles, a degree offers a distinct advantage. But that doesn’t mean today’s grads have it easy.
New grads are working harder for fewer options
Current students are feeling these market challenges even more acutely.
- Among all rising grads, 9.8% changed their major due to economic conditions — more than double the 4.8% of all recent grads who did the same, suggesting anxiety is accelerating in real time.
- And when the bridge to professional life looks uncertain, more are choosing to wait to enter the workforce. Nearly half (48.5%) of rising grads are considering furthering their education with grad school as an alternative to finding a traditional job.
- And more than half (56.3%) of recent grads are considering the same after testing the waters of the current labor market.
- Graduate school could be functioning as a hedge against a tough market as college grads look to buy more time before entering the traditional workforce.
