"Today's college graduates are facing one of the most hostile job markets in recent memory, especially when it comes to entry-level roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 9.3% unemployment rate for bachelor's degree holders aged 20 to 24 in August 2025, almost double the average unemployment rate for all workers. In the U.S., entry-level hiring is down 23% compared to March 2020, which is more than the 18% decline in overall hiring, according to research from LinkedIn."
"Additionally, a 2023 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that fewer than 60% of graduates had a job six months after finishing their degree. The culprit? It's a cocktail of economic uncertainty, cautious corporate spending, and accelerating automation. When capital becomes more expensive-as it has with persistently high interest rates until recently-companies rethink where every dollar goes. In this new calculus, entry-level roles are often the first to be cut."
Entry-level roles historically served as the main on-ramp into the workforce, providing graduates with experience, income, and long-term career development. That pathway is eroding, leaving many educated workers without clear entry options. Unemployment for bachelor's degree holders aged 20–24 reached 9.3% in August 2025, and U.S. entry-level hiring is down 23% versus March 2020, outpacing overall hiring declines. Fewer than 60% of 2023 graduates had a job six months after graduation. Firms are cutting entry-level roles because they yield slower ROI, require onboarding, and take time to ramp, choosing instead to redistribute work, adopt AI, or delay hiring.
Read at Fast Company
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