Dual surveys conducted by ZipRecruiter revealed a discrepancy between the expectations of nearly 3,000 rising and recent college graduates and the realities of the current job market. According to the study, graduates found the job search process lengthier than anticipated, with 82% expecting to secure a job within three months, but only 77% achieving this timeline. Majors in business and finance were more successful in finding employment promptly.
Salaries also fell short of expectations for many graduates. Although rising graduates anticipated earning six-figure salaries, averaging $101,500, recent graduates reported an average starting salary of $68,400. Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Design majors reported the lowest earnings, with an average starting salary of $48,000.
Flexibility in jobs was another priority for graduates, with 90% of rising graduates considering it significant. However, only 29% of recent graduates found jobs offering flexible arrangements. "Navigating the transition from campus to career can be a challenge for new grads, especially given the unpredictable market this class is stepping into," said Ian Siegel, ZipRecruiter's co-founder and CEO. He advised, "The grads who will come out ahead are those who start their search early, stay open to different paths, and keep at it, even if things don’t go exactly as planned."
The report also highlighted that nursing and allied health majors proved most useful in terms of job outcomes. It noted a gender-based salary gap, with male graduates earning an average of $72,700 compared to female graduates earning $67,500. Internships are not translating into full-time employment as effectively as before, with only 9.7% of recent graduates securing jobs through internships, contrasting with 40% of rising graduates expecting internships to lead to full-time roles.
Concerns about artificial intelligence are prevalent among graduates, with nearly half (47% of new grads and 46% of rising grads) believing AI will reduce job opportunities in their fields. Industries with the most entry-level roles for recent graduates include nursing, special education, and electronics engineering.
"Go here to read 'The Graduate Divide: Expectations vs. Reality for the Class of 2025'," published on April 23 by ZipRecruiter, a leading online employment marketplace.
