Job Prospects for ‘24, ‘25 Grads and beyond?

Parents Forum
1429

That’s one role. And yes people still pursue it. Actually desire it. Some succeed. Most won’t but some do. There’s also fidelity, Schwab etc.

You all are missing the point. There are still jobs. Not necessarily what the student wanted which is why they are home. But many that may ultimately become careers. My sister had no degree. Was in retail. Kept getting outside offers. Worked in the cell industry calling on businesses for years, making six figures. Hated it at first.

I mentioned a few - lux gas stations going everywhere, retail. Even insurance claims. Teaching. Car sales or svc. Financial svcs. Grocery. Whatever

We see CS and panic. It’s been hot. They should still apply but can work while doing so.

That’s it. It’s true even in this economy. Some majors have always struggled and end up in these roles they didn’t envision anyway, myself included.

We are not in job depression. We are in entry level software engineer depression.

One can sit home and do the same thing over and over or they can mix it up.

Sorry if anyone has an issue with the suggestion.

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1430

We are also in a depression/recession (whatever we call it) for jobs in research combined with certain areas of health care (not all).

Jobs that were plentiful just a few short years ago now require 2 years of experience, and many need to leave the area to get it. This was not true 3 years ago.

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1431

Stop right there.

Kids need the salaries that come from a full time job to survive, and they need the non-salary benefits that come with full time work.

Like, there are plenty of slots driving for Uber, too. Doesn’t mean it’s something you can independently live on for anyone beyond a very small fraction of those who do it.

The mere existence of jobs does not entail the existence of jobs that include livability. Thinking it does is whistling past the graveyard.

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1432

I have no issue with any suggestions that might help someone’s kid land a job. But your post is verifiably false. Large companies have cut their hiring targets across the board- not just software engineers. But marketing analysts, compensation analysts, benefits counselors, entry level recruiters, employee relations, internal communications, spots in corporate rotational programs which lead to operations, facilities management, financial analysis, strategy, etc. ACROSS THE BOARD. And we’re talking about banks and consulting firms and consumer products companies, where entry level software engineers made up a small percentage of their new hires even when the economy was strong.

It’s big news when some AI startup announces that they’ve increased their new grad hiring targets by 20%. But last year they hired 10 new grads… and so this year they’ll hire 12-14? When a large bank can cut 10,000 jobs overnight, not to mention cutting new grad hiring targets by 30%?

I think it’s great that you work in an industry which is still hiring– and has robust hiring. But that doesn’t mean that this is the case across the country and across the board because it is not. I get that your kids are happily and lucratively employed. But surely you know someone who graduated in May of 2025 who has yet to land something– anything???

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1433

Yes. My point. Location or job duty. It may have to change just like it may later for many in jobs today that don’t exist in 20 years.

I’m talking about today and something to get you a resume built. That’s it. You all keep talking about the jobs people desire.

I’m not.

1434

You know who ultimately wins. Hustlers.

Work at tj maxx 20 hrs a week …you’ll win over the person sitting home fir a year who now has to compete with next years grads - and there are full time jobs avail today, with benes.

You all can rail against it but it’s true. They are just not the jobs these college grads want.

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1435

There is nothing wrong with working at TJ Maxx 20 hours a week if you can find that type of work. As far as getting benefits …that’s a whole other issue and doesn’t happen often (at least here). Many places (if they are hiring at all) will employ you just under the number of hours needed for benefits.

There are people working in schools, pharmaceutical companies etc who cannot get benefits. I know them.

I would not pick up and move far away for a job in retail.

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1436

Not would I suggest you do unless it were a career role.

Some of these may have ghost jobs but not all.

And when we get the first look at college career reports, we will see many employed. Yes many seeking but still many employed.

As I noted, my kids company hired the same 150 they have the past few years - that’s engineers, supply chain (which really doesn’t require a supply chain degree) and ergonomic type people - I forget the name.

I’m not talking about companies like these - but yes it’s hard but it’s not all doom and gloom. There have been far harder times.

But the cream rises to the top.

I just spoke to one gainfully employed st tgiving that says resources promised aren’t given, the hours are too long, it’s bad for their mental health.

That’s the difference with today vs yesterday. Kids gotta be appreciative to be employed. And forget their workplace dream. I hated to have to go into sales after failing at journalism. But I was appreciative of the opportunity and embraced it. Today it seems less of that and that, to some extent, includes my kids.

1437

There are many that kids could get that include livability. Sitting at home certainly doesn’t. If they can’t find a livable income they can live home while working.

You all have such a narrow view and that’s why some kids sit home for a year or more jobless.

I keep showing who is hiring - and at full wages - and you all shoot it down.

I didn’t dream of working in a gas station either - but today’s aren’t gas stations.

And I mentioned other growth areas for jobs.

If you’d rather kids sit home and do nothing, that’s fine too - it’s a choice they can make.

Moving on.

1438

sometimes not taking a job for the sake of it might be smart. this conversation is more complex and nuanced so there is probably no one right answer. if you are a CS kid, you are not going to want to take unrelated jobs because there is a subtle acceptance of the closing of a sought out well paying career and doing so in reaction to a macro market phase may be shortsighted. i know kids in our circle who vow to graduate later/go to grad school/come up with other strategies to keep themselves in the hunt without reshaping their career trajectory.

of course not every family should do this or can afford to do it. however the generic “jobs are out there if you want it” is not particularly relevant for significant groups of 26 grads.

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1439

I see jobs in healthcare: labcorp, J&J, Cigna etc. It doesn’t specify what the job actually is.

I just looked at Labcorp and saw Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin. I looked at Labcorp jobs in Indiana and Wisconsin- saw possibilities, but many require specific experience, certain certifications etc.

Looked at another healthcare company with jobs in Pa, Massachusetts, and California. One position looked interesting but required experience (listed possible experiences).

I think it’s hard now. A few years ago before grad school my D worked as a research coordinator and had to go through a series of interviews with PhDs and MDs…that lasted 6 weeks. I think that job was discontinued due to NIH cuts.

Grads now have a different experience than just a few short years ago.

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1440

There are studies that show an inverse relationship between the economy and law school applications.

Anticipate a record number of law school applications.

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1441

true, and in these examples most of them are applying to MS CS degrees or taking an extra semester etc. Some of them are taking suboptimal jobs if nothing pans out by graduation and plan to use the better wlb to prep for interviewing in a better market through personal work, freelance work, or anything else consistent with their career goal.

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1442

Public Service Announcement- defining what is “Gaslighting”.

Poster A regularly attends professional conferences and symposia designed for Talent leaders across a wide range of industries. At the last one- literally a week ago, the topic of virtually every session and informal chat was about how hiring targets are down-for new grads, post-graduate school professionals, experienced hires, executive level hires. And the follow- up was always “we are announcing major lay-offs in December- that used to be unheard of” or “We’ve filed the paperwork for a significant RIF with the state labor board in 5 different states– we think we’ll pull the trigger in January”.

Poster B insists that this is not true. And that ANYONE can find a job as long as they can work a cash register at TJ Maxx or similar. And despite the evidence (covered by Bloomberg, WSJ, FT, Economist, and other reputable publications) that hiring is way down across several significant sectors of the economy– and that it is MUCH broader than just tech or software engineering or CS– Poster A is wrong, short-sighted, refuses to believe the many “help wanted” signs that Poster B sees on the way to work.

This is gaslighting.

I fully concede that there are robust sectors of the economy. Which can be true, at the same time as major, major pull backs among companies which hire thousands of people. And it is also true that “low risk” hiring (commission based, no benefits, 1099 and not W2, 90 day probationary period, WFH with no training and a “sink or swim” business model, gig work including Lyft, Uber, other delivery apps) accounts for a chunk of the “robust hiring” going on in the economy. I would never tell a young person that it’s better to sit at home waiting for the economy to get better vs. becoming a grocery picker at your local Kroger. That’s not me. But it is disingenuous to point to these gig type roles as a sign of a robust economy or a robust hiring climate. And it is gaslighting to tell posters who point out that the economic indicators suggest both a poor hiring environment and a possible recession that if they’d only pick up and move to Shangri-La they can outrun a lousy economy. Jobs don’t work that way.

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1443

Why would the choices be limited to “get a job at TJ Maxx” or “sit at home and do nothing”?

Kids who are having trouble getting a full time job in their desired industry can still do a lot more than just sitting at home… for example as @ucscuuw describes (talking about real kids here),

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1444

Our D was just home for Thanksgiving. We talked about the job market since she recruits for her company and mentors upperclassmen at her college in finding jobs. She said the biggest shift she’s seeing right now is that almost everyone accepted their job offers in the first round of recruiting early this Fall. People weren’t waiting to see if they got competition offers. As such, they are done with all their new hires for the next cohort. Usually there is a second round in January for her company.

We have a family member who graduated this past spring. She’s working three jobs - retail, delivery driver, and now a seasonal state job which hopefully may translate to something full time. She’s well under employed but she’s self supporting and looking at this as a way to gain some soft skills and get something on her resume.

This is a really hard time to be job hunting and we are also hearing in our circle that more kids are going to grad school.

Hopefully things start to turn around!

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1445

100% agree but kids need to keep going, like @momofboiler1 example, opportunities I put out or whatever.

That’s all I’m trying to say.

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1446

I’ve seen several posts mention job prospects being poor in particular fields like CS, but not overall. Stats comparing to previous years are below from the NACE database, which includes ~600k bachelor’s degree recipients per year… a good portion of the overall total graduates in US.

As of 2024 grads, I’m not seeing drastic changes in available stats from previous years. Overall stats across all majors show little change in inflation adjusted earnings or % seeking employment/education. There was a small uptick in portion pursuing grad degrees instead of pursuing employment.

CS shows a similar type of trend to overall, with a small uptick in portion pursuing grad degrees instead of pursuing employment. % seeking was in 2024 was similar to 2023 and 2021, but uptick from 2022. CS and related had the highest starting salary of any major with a large sample size, in all reviewed years. However, % seeking employment/education was slightly higher than average in 2024 – 16% seeking in CS vs 14% seeking in all majors. In all reviewed years prior to 2024, CS did not have higher % seeking than the overall average across all majors. This is consistent with anecdotal reports of CS majors sometimes having large number of applications before finding a desired software engineering/developer type job.

Other reviewed majors also showed relatively minor changes. Nursing demand seems to be increasing slightly, with only 8% seeking employment/education in 2024… lower than all other majors that are commonly discussed on this forum. Mechanical engineering had an uptick in portion seeking, by a larger magnitude than CS. English and biology continue to average less than half the starting salary as CS (without graduate/professional degrees) and larger % seeking employment/education.

All Majors, 6 months after graduation (Salary expressed in 2025 $)
2024 – Mean Salary = $68k, 60% employed, 23% grad degrees, 14% seeking
2023 – Mean Salary = $67k, 64% employed, 20% grad degrees, 15% seeking
2022 – Mean Salary = $68k, 64% employed, 20% grad degrees, 14% seeking
2021 – Mean Salary = $69k, 60% employed, 22% grad degrees, 16% seeking

CS Degree, 6 months after graduation (Salary expressed in 2025 $)
2024 – Mean Salary = $105k, 64% employed, 18% grad degrees, 16% seeking
2023 – Mean Salary = $108k, 68% employed, 16% grad degrees, 15% seeking
2022 – Mean Salary = $104k, 72% employed, 16% grad degrees, 11% seeking
2021 – Mean Salary = $100k, 70% employed, 14% grad degrees, 15% seeking

Mech Engineering, 6 months after graduation (Salary expressed in 2025 $)
2024 – Mean Salary = $79k, 69% employed, 15% grad degrees, 14% seeking
2023 – Mean Salary = $80k, 71% employed, 16% grad degrees, 11% seeking
2022 – Mean Salary = $79k, 72% employed, 15% grad degrees, 11% seeking
2021 – Mean Salary = $79k, 68% employed, 16% grad degrees, 14% seeking

Nursing Degree, 6 months after graduation (Salary expressed in 2025 $)
2024 – Mean Salary = $72k, 87% employed, 4% grad degrees, 8% seeking
2023 – Mean Salary = $73k, 87% employed, 4% grad degrees, 9% seeking
2022 – Mean Salary = $72k, 85% employed, 5% grad degrees, 9% seeking
2021 – Mean Salary = $69k, 83% employed, 5% grad degrees, 10% seeking

English Degree, 6 months after graduation (Salary expressed in 2025 $)
2024 – Mean Salary = $49k, 52% employed, 24% grad degrees, 20% seeking
2023 – Mean Salary = $48k, 52% employed, 25% grad degrees, 21% seeking
2022 – Mean Salary = $48k, 53% employed, 23% grad degrees, 21% seeking
2021 – Mean Salary = $48k, 52% employed, 24% grad degrees, 21% seeking

Biology Degree, 6 months after graduation (Salary expressed in 2025 $)
2024 – Mean Salary = $46k, 42% employed, 36% grad degrees, 18% seeking
2023 – Mean Salary = $46k, 42% employed, 36% grad degrees, 19% seeking
2022 – Mean Salary = $45k, 44% employed, 36% grad degrees, 18% seeking
2021 – Mean Salary = $45k, 40% employed, 39% grad degrees, 19% seeking

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1447

I am highly skeptical of these claims.

I think that part of it comes from working in a job sector (postsecondary education) that has had a shortage of positions in relation to qualified applicants for, depending on the field, anywhere from a couple years (the last few—e.g., economics—have finally fallen) two a couple decades (e.g., linguistics, my field) to a half century (e.g., American literature, history).

The idea that “the cream rises to the top” sounds nice and meritocratic, but it is legitimately false—and, when I think back to some of the people I knew back in grad school, demonstrably so.

Yes, there are jobs. It is completely correct to say that. It is also, however, completely correct to say that the number of available jobs, especially entry-level jobs that require a college degree, is depressed right now, and it is also correct to say that the supply-demand ratios for many job sectors is unbalanced.

The job market is not, after all, a perfectly efficient and elastic market, which is the first necessary requirement (though not a sufficient one) for a truly meritocratic set of outcomes. The outcomes are much more luck and happenstance than any of us care to admit, because acknowledging that fact would poke holes in our own assumptions, which are built from observations built on survivorship bias.

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1448

I have 2024 and 2025 grads with lots of friends in these classes. 2025 is much, much worse from what I’m seeing in my child’s graduation and cohort group. Now I am also seeing a disproportionate number of biology and CS graduates. Add in that our other big data source is kids from our robotics team and I definitely have skewed data, but friends of ours with psych and english data points are seeing it even worse.

As someone mentioned above by far the biggest issue we are hearing day in and day out is EVERYONE wants 3-5 years of experience and anyone who was looking at science research is hurting - whether they were planning advanced degrees or working in labs.

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