04-30-2026
Employer Insight: ZipRecruiter released new data on the job market for recent college graduates. They surveyed recent 2025 grads and rising 2026 grads. As widely reported, the labor market for entry-level jobs is getting harder and increasingly more competitive. There is a bright spot: The share of recent grads landing a role within three months of graduation increased from 63.3% last year to 77.2%. Graduates, however, are submitting more applications, receiving fewer offers, and with fewer choices about where they land, are more flexible in the jobs they will accept. College degrees still seem to help get that entry-level job. Grads face a 5.6% unemployment rate, which is lower than the 7.8% for non-college graduates of the same age.
Fears about landing a job have caused the 2026 class to change their majors more frequently than prior graduating classes. The number of students changing their majors is up to 9.8%, more than double the 4.8% of recent grads.
ZipRecruiter’s data evidences a distinct advantage for undergraduates who gained work experience while in college. Eighty-one percent of grads with work experience are currently employed compared to 40.7% of grads with no work experience. Gaining experience during college accelerates the job search timeline. Internships and apprenticeships are the “clearest on-ramps into the workforce.” Networking is often crucial to securing that first job, according to the responses.
Many graduates are expanding their vision of what a first job should look like because of the job market and financial pressure. They are considering alternative employment options, like starting their own business, gig work, freelance work, and skilled trades. They are more willing to “bend” on their work-life balance priorities, relocate, and accept lower pay.