Threat to Grads

The Reality Facing New Grads

AI is replacing entry-level jobs. “Entry-level” now requires experience. And hiring freezes are shutting grads out. Together, these forces are redefining what it takes to start a career.

Navigate a Broken Job Market.

For the first time since 1980, grads face higher unemployment than the general population — 6% vs. 4.2%.

— Barron’s

Entry-level hiring is down 23% since 2020, while applications per job are up 30%.

— Bloomberg

Unemployment for young men aged 20–24 has reached 9.6%, nearly double the national average.

— CNN

One-third of "entry-level" jobs now require prior experience.

— Bloomberg

The New York Fed reports 41.2% underemployment for recent grads in Q1 2025.

— New York Fed

Many grads are applying to 300–450+ jobs with no results.

— CNN

The AI Disruption Has Arrived

AI could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs in 1–5 years, raising unemployment to 10–20%.

— Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO

Computer science & math grads under age 27 have seen an 8% drop in employment since 2022.

— Bloomberg / CNN

AI is already replacing junior coders, paralegals, and retail associates, gutting the first rungs of the career ladder.

— New York Times

Every major tech CEO is actively planning for large-scale AI job displacement-privately, if not publicly.

— Axios

63% of executives agree AI will absorb many of the tasks currently handled by entry-level employees.

— New York Times (LinkedIn Survey)

Entry-level hiring in tech sector dropped by 73.4% in early 2025—far outpacing overall hiring declines.

— Business Insider

C-suite leaders are pausing hiring while assessing if AI can replace humans.

— Axios

Cost of a Slow Start

Six months of unemployment at age 22 can cost over $100,000 in lifetime earnings.

— Barron’s / Bloomberg consensus

Cost of a Slow Start

Nearly 50% of underemployed grads are still underemployed five years later.

— Bloomberg

Cost of a Slow Start

Only 27% of grads end up in jobs related to their major, revealing a broken pipeline between education and career.

— Career Services Report

Cost of a Slow Start

40–41% of recent grads are underemployed, working in jobs that don’t require a degree.

— Career Services Report

College Career Centers Aren’t Built for This

Just 8% of grads found their college career center “very helpful.”

— Gallup / Career Services Report

Average student-to-career-staff ratio: 1,889–to–1.

— Career Services Report

Only 36% of students are satisfied with career services, and just 32% say they’re effective.

— Career Services Report

Only half of students ever visit their career center.

— Career Services Report

Just 1 in 4 students participate in mock interviews or structured prep.

— Career Services Report

Networking: The Hidden Key to Job Search Success

70–85% of jobs are filled through networking—not online applications.

— CNBC / NPR

Only ~2% of online applications result in interviews, while referrals have significantly higher conversion rates.

— Forbes / Jobvite

Referred candidates are 4x more likely to get hired than those who apply through job boards.

— Zippia / SHRM

Employee referrals make up 40% of all hires but just 7% of total applicants.

— Harvard Business Review

47% of unadvertised roles are filled through internal or personal networks.

— U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

35% of LinkedIn users say a simple outreach message led directly to a job opportunity.

— LinkedIn Workforce Report

Crises Beyond Graduation

Why This Crisis Extends Beyond Graduation

The implications of struggling to launch a career extend far beyond temporary unemployment

Financial Consequences

Career Trajectory Damage

Mental Health & Confidence

$100K+ lost over career

Six months of post-grad unemployment delays earnings and compounds student debt pressure.

43% stay underemployed for 5+ years

Early struggles derail career momentum and shrink long-term potential.

Confidence at record lows for Gen Z

Job market rejection takes a lasting toll on motivation and mental health.

Financial Consequences

$100K+ lost over career

Six months of post-grad unemployment delays earnings and compounds student debt pressure.

Career Trajectory Damage

43% stay underemployed for 5+ years

Early struggles derail career momentum and shrink long-term potential.

Mental Health & Confidence

Confidence at record lows for Gen Z

Job market rejection takes a lasting toll on motivation and mental health.

The Silent Crisis:

College Grads Hit

Hardest by Job Market

The Reality Facing New Grads

Navigate a Broken Job Market.

The AI Disruption Has Arrived

College Career Centers Aren’t Built for This

Networking: The Hidden Key to Job Search Success

Why This Crisis Extends Beyond Graduation

Don't Let Market Challenges Determine Your Career Future