Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
As the class of 2025 prepares to enter the workforce, recent data from LinkedIn exposes both the challenges and opportunities ahead for new graduates. The job market is cooling, with hiring slowing across industries and young professionals facing intense competition and rising expectations from employers.
Confidence Low, Pressure High
Recent grads are struggling more than other age groups to feel confident in their job prospects. Many employers now demand not only degrees but also a strong foundation of skills and real-world experience, which is often hard to come by straight out of college. In fact, nearly 70% of Gen Z professionals say they plan to look for a new role in 2025, reflecting growing anxiety over job stability.
Fastest-Growing Roles for New Grads
Flexibility is proving essential. Some grads are launching careers in unexpected fields, trading original plans for fast-growing roles that align with current market demand. For example, job titles like AI engineer, systems engineer, and datacenter technician have seen a spike in hiring among recent bachelor’s graduates, as companies invest in emerging technologies and automation.
Career pivots are becoming common. One grad transitioned from a sales job to a machine learning role, ultimately landing a position as an AI engineer. These transitions are indicative of a wider trend of grads seeking upward mobility and skill-building over perfect alignment with their degree.
High-Demand Industries: Tech Isn’t the Only Path
Construction is the fastest-growing industry for bachelor’s grads between 2023 and 2024, followed by utilities and energy sectors. Infrastructure investment and the rise of smart technologies are helping fuel these opportunities. Fields once considered traditional now offer dynamic, tech-forward career paths where new professionals can make an immediate impact.
Sun Belt Cities Attracting New Talent
Location is becoming a strategic career decision. Cities like Tucson, Savannah, and Tallahassee are seeing strong inflows of new grads thanks to affordable living, lifestyle perks, and job growth. Tucson, in particular, was the fastest-growing metro for new graduate hiring, with sectors like engineering and design offering clear opportunities.
Alternative Routes and Self-Made Careers
For those unable to land full-time jobs right away, contract and freelance work is becoming a valid and even preferred path. About 25% of Gen Z professionals are open to freelancing if traditional roles don’t materialize. Some, like a Howard University grad who launched her own creative agency after struggling in the post-pandemic job market, are building careers on their own terms.
Tips for Breaking In
Experts suggest new grads take a broad approach: say yes more often, lead with skills rather than majors, and focus on the people they’ll be working with, not just the job title. Networking is also essential, as even informal conversations can open doors. And above all, enthusiasm can set a candidate apart in a competitive field.
