ZipRecruiter Study Finds Expectations and Reality Collide for the Graduating Class of 2025
Annual
The job search and salary realities:
- Graduates found the job search took longer than they expected. 82% of rising grads are expecting to start working within three monthsof graduating, however, only 77% of recent grads accomplished that, and 5% are still searching for their first job.
- Graduates found salaries didn’t meet expectations, with 42% of recent grads reporting they couldn’t secure the pay they wanted.
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Rising graduates expect to make six figures (
$101,500 on average), but the majority may fall short. The average starting salary for recent grads surveyed was$68,400 . - Rising grads want jobs with flexibility, but recent grads report they are hard to come by. 90% of rising grads say schedule flexibility is very important to them but according to recent grads, they’ll be hard pressed to land such a role as only 29% report having very flexible jobs.
“Navigating the transition from campus to career can be a challenge for new grads, especially given the unpredictable market this class is stepping into. 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,” said
Other report highlights include:
- Nursing and allied health topped the charts as the most useful majors based on an in-depth analysis of three stages of the college experience – major selection, job search, and job outcomes.
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Male grads’ salaries are outpacing their female counterparts, with men earning
$72,700 per year and women earning$67,500 right out of the gate, on average. - Internships aren’t converting into full-time employment like they once did, with only 9.7% of recent grads saying an internship or apprenticeship helped them land a job—compared to nearly 40% of rising grads who believe it will be their ticket to full-time work.
- AI is a looming concern for grads, with 47% of new grads and 46% of rising grads believing their field has or will have fewer jobs due to AI.
- Industries hiring the most entry-level roles for recent grads include nursing, special education, and electronics engineering.
To view the full report, including additional data insights and methodology, please visit: ziprecruiter-research.org/annual-grad-report
About
ZipRecruiter® (NYSE: ZIP) is a leading online employment marketplace that actively connects people to their next great opportunity. ZipRecruiter’s powerful matching technology improves the job search experience for job seekers and helps businesses of all sizes find and hire the right candidates quickly.
1 Based on job seeker app ratings, during the period of
2 Based on G2 satisfaction ratings as of
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