Career Outlook for College Graduates in 2025

Graduation season is upon us, and the job market is soon to be saturated with college graduates searching for their first real-world job. While newly minted job seekers are dependent on the availability and stability of the job market, 2025 graduates are embarking on the job search with their own ideals, priorities, and concerns.

Job Market Trends for Recent College Graduates

Economists predict that college graduates may have a tough time finding their first job. A variety of factors are contributing to this: an uncertain economic environment, impending fallout from tariffs, and changes to entry-level jobs as dependency on Artificial Intelligence (AI) increases. Soon-to-be college graduates feel this tension. CareerBuilder+Monster just released their 2025 State of the Graduate Report, which was compiled by interviewing college seniors about their graduation and career outlook. Three out of four students surveyed said they “worry there will be an impact on their job prospects due to the economy.”

Employment Rates for Recent Grads

Unemployment rates for recent college graduates have risen slightly ahead of graduation. As of March 2025, the unemployment rate stood at 5.8%, whereas it was 4.6% the previous year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Underemployment is a term that refers to employees who have a job outside of the field in which they majored. This term implies that these graduates were not able to find work in their preferred field and thus had to settle for any job they could secure. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that this figure is up to 41.8% as of March.

Economic Shifts Impacting Opportunities 

Unfortunately, this year’s college graduates are joining the job market when there is much volatility and uncertainty in the economy, as stated above, and the Class of 2025 is in tune with these shifts. AI is also posing a big threat to job roles and availability, particularly for entry-level positions. Approximately 37% of survey respondents in the 2025 State of the Graduate Report expect lower starting salaries due to the economy. Furthermore, 64% believe it will be harder to secure an entry-level position because of emerging AI technology that can essentially replace them.

Top Industries and Careers Hiring College Graduates

Unfortunately, recent college graduates will face a tough job market, but this is the same group of students who graduated from high school amidst a pandemic. If anyone has fortitude, perseverance, and patience, it’s this graduating class. Additionally, there are fields where workers are in high demand and new graduates would be well-received.

Fastest Growing Fields for New Grads

In preparation for college graduation this month, LinkedIn released a report on the fastest-growing job titles for graduates. They include: • Artificial Intelligence Engineer • Law Clerk • Datacenter Technician • System Engineer • Financial Planning and Analysis Specialist • Business Development Representative • Administrative Analyst • Product Associate • Service Desk Specialist • Clinician The report went even further into the data to highlight fields that have the most potential for growth for recent graduates: • Construction • Utilities • Oil, Gas, and Mining • Financial Services • Wholesale • Entertainment Providers • Administrative and Support Services • Real Estate • Professional Services • Education Interestingly, these fast-growing fields don’t limit recent graduates to those with a bachelor’s degree as well as those without. Furthermore, these fields are undergoing drastic changes with the emergence of technologies like AI. While recent graduates express concern about AI competing for entry-level jobs, they can pivot to become experts in newer technologies to excel in any of the above fields. The sooner they embrace these tools, the more opportunities they may find.

Degrees with the Highest Employment Rates

Not all entry-level jobs are created equal, and students in the following fields may be more successful at finding opportunities in this current market, reports Research.com: • Business Administration – These graduates ultimately oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. This field is expected to grow by 10% over the next decade. • Computer Science – Students in this field will design, develop, and analyze software and hardware systems in various industries. Computer science jobs will increase by 32% in the next 10 years. • Accounting – An accountant prepares and maintains financial records for clients, ensuring compliance with standards, filing taxes, and providing financial reporting. Accountants are expected to experience a 4% growth in their field over the next decade. • Finance – This term encompasses a wide range of opportunities, from borrowing and investing to lending, budgeting, and forecasting. Over the next 10 years, this field is expected to grow by 10%. • Nursing – Nurses treat patients in a variety of settings, from primary care offices to hospitals to rehabilitation and personal homes. This field is projected to grow by 6% over the next decade. • Management Information Systems – Students who study Management Information Systems will go on to design, implement, and manage systems that assist with business operations and decision-making. These jobs are expected to experience a 15% increase in growth over the next 10 years. • Economics – Economists study, analyze, and predict trends in the marketplace, examining resources, goods, and services. Over the next decade, jobs in economics are expected to grow by 6%. • Software Engineering/Software Development – Software Engineers and Developers design, develop, test, and maintain software systems and applications. Unsurprisingly, this field is expected to experience a 26% growth in the next decade. • Electrical Engineering – An electrical engineer designs, develops, tests, and oversees electrical systems and equipment. This field is expected to grow by 4% over the next decade. • Information Technology – Graduates of information technology will work with computer systems, networks, and data to support the digital infrastructure of a business or organization. Those in IT can expect a 10% growth rate over the next decade.

Salary Expectations for College Graduates

Unsurprisingly, the highest paid entry-level jobs can be found in technology and engineering fields, according to CareerBuilder. These high-paying jobs include software developer, web developer, database analyst, environmental engineer, and user experience designer. Bankrate predicts that the average starting salary for 2025 college graduates is $68,680. Graduates should keep in mind that the figure accounts for many STEM-related fields, which typically have a higher starting salary rate, ranging from $70,000 to $80,000. If you’re going into education, for example, you probably shouldn’t expect that high of a salary.

Average Starting Salary by Major

CareerBuilder+Monster states that 2025 graduates intend to search for jobs in the fields below. Identifying these fields, along with the average starting salary, will give grads an idea of what to expect and how much to negotiate during hiring interviews and conversations. • Business – Average starting salary of $78,883, according to the Kelley School of Business. • Healthcare – Average starting salary of $68,485, as shared by Salary.com. • Computer Technology – Average starting salary of $76,251, as reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). • Finance – Average starting salary of $84,387, according to the Kelly School of Business. • Education – Average starting salary of $46,526, states the National Education Association. • Artificial Intelligence – Average starting salary of $130,548, as reported by NetCom Learning. • Art – Average starting salary of $59,201, as shared by Salary.com. • Engineering – Average starting salary of $78,731 as reported by NACE. • Science – Average starting salary of $69,709, according to NACE. • Legal – Average starting salary of $62,601, as shared by Salary.com.

Challenges Facing the Class of 2025

While the Class of 2025 faces unique hurdles in the job market this year, it’s common for graduates to experience challenges as they work to find their first job. LinkedIn’s job report for college graduates states, “The class of 2025 will be competing with each other, as well as with more experienced bachelor's degree holders, all the while facing rising expectations from employers who expect more skills, experience, and readiness to hit the ground running.” While some roles will experience major growth, like those in the healthcare and technology fields, other sectors will see a decline. According to the World Economic Forum, clerical and secretarial jobs will be hit the hardest over the next five years. Additionally, President Trump’s recent government layoffs, totaling more than 275,000 roles, means that many experienced workers have been displaced, and these jobs are no longer available at the federal level.

How Grads Can Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

All is not hopeless for the Class of 2025. In fact, their novelty to the job market and burgeoning technological skill set can work to their advantage. They just need to market themselves and their skill set effectively.

Build High Demand Skills Before Graduation 

Forward Pathway highlights several ways in which the Class of 2025 can successfully compete in the job market. First, recent college graduates should look for roles across multiple fields, which is a reality that these students are already coming to terms with. The 2025 Graduate from CareerBuilder+Monster reports that almost half of the survey respondents believe they won’t be able to find a job at the company they prefer. Furthermore, 42% of graduates who don’t have a job lined up have broadened their search to include other employers and industries, which is an eight percentage point increase from last year. Secondly, graduates should highlight or master in-demand skills. A Forbes article recently highlighted skill sets that employers are looking for, like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and project management. This may require taking an online course, like an AI Beginners Course on Coursera, or obtaining a certification in addition to a college degree. Third, college graduates should highlight their adaptability as new job seekers. One benefit they have over more experienced workers is that they are extremely malleable, flexible, and teachable. In interviews, the Class of 2025 should articulate that they have the time, mental acuity, and fortitude to become whatever the role needs them to be. Finally, recent graduates should never underestimate the power of networking. Even in a shifting landscape, the saying, “It’s all about who you know,” rings true. The Class of 2025 should use every resource at their disposal for finding a job, including their alumni network, family friends, and parents.

Resources for College Grads

College graduates have access to many different resources as they embark on their first real job search. They should be exploring all the following to help them share their resume, schedule interviews, and secure job offers. Even though the Class of 2025 is worried AI will take away entry-level roles, they are using this feature to help find employment. The 2025 State of the Graduate found that 82% of survey respondents used this new technology to write emails, resumes, and practice interview questions. Furthermore, 50% of students reported using social media to find job opportunities and learn more about companies.

College Career Services

College Career Services are perhaps the greatest asset recent college graduates have at their disposal. This is a network that more experienced job seekers may not tap into. Therefore, the Class of 2025 should capitalize on this. Contact Career Services and ask about job openings, internships, or alumni that they can contact regarding their job search. They can also get feedback on their resume and job interview skills. This is a service that can be utilized after graduation, and recent graduates would be remiss not to work with college career counselors at this point.

Job Boards and Hiring Platforms

The 2025 State of the Grad reports that 96% of survey respondents are using digital tools to find their first job. This includes job boards, such as Monster and CareerBuilder. Job boards will allow recent graduates to target their job search by industry, entry-level positions, and location.

New Graduate Job Market FAQs

Understandably, recent college graduates have many questions. Fortunately, there are answers:

How is the job market for college graduates?

Graduates should expect a tough job market. With massive government layoffs and uncertain tariff rules and regulations, graduates will be competing with experienced workers, while employers may be hesitant to hire.

What is the career outlook for college graduates?

Many industries are expected to experience significant growth within the next five to 10 years. These include healthcare, engineering, and technology. College graduates should add AI and analytics understanding to their skill set to increase their marketability.

Are college graduates struggling to get jobs?

The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is up slightly from last year. Whether the Class of 2025 will struggle with finding a job in the next six months remains to be seen.

Are college graduates career ready?

College graduates have a unique advantage over more experienced workers. They have come of age during a heightened period of emerging technologies, like AI. In comparison, they are more adept at using these technologies, which have helped them navigate their college courses and are now being utilized in their job search.

What degrees are in demand?

Jobs that require specific skills are in high demand. As Baby Boomers get older, there is more need for healthcare workers. AI has shifted the landscape across multiple fields, requiring more AI engineers and developers. Finally, business is more data-driven than ever, creating a surge of roles in project management and analytics.

What companies are hiring the most college graduates?

Handshake provides a comprehensive list of the 100 companies hiring students right now. Unsurprisingly, this includes a lot of business and technologically minded companies, like Goldman Sachs, IBM, and Amazon.

What field is the best to get into? 

Students who are studying and searching for jobs in STEM-related fields will find the most job opportunities with the best pay over the next 10 years. Additionally, nursing and business graduates will also find stability in their.

What degrees are recession proof? 

There are specific jobs that society cannot function without. These include healthcare, education, and now, technology. Nurses, doctors, and teachers are always in demand. And while start-ups and tech companies cycle through layoffs frequently, there are always new companies and opportunities to fill the gap.