The Class of 2025 is just around the corner, as seniors begin their final year of college before entering the workforce full-time. But many college seniors aren’t feeling particularly hopeful about their immediate future.
57% of students planning to enter the Class of 2025 said they were pessimistic about the start of their careers. handshakea recruitment firm focused on early career hiring.
That’s up from 49% of students entering the Class of 2024 who said the same thing last year.
“When asked what factors are influencing this outlook, they point to four main factors: stiff job competition, student loan debt, the rise of generative AI, and the current political climate,” Handshake said.
Of the students surveyed, 54% said they were concerned about increased competition for jobs, and 45% said they were concerned about a lack of benefits or compensation.
Handshake said that “concerns about competition are largely legitimate” for soon-to-be new employees: “Handshake job creation for 2024 is currently below 2023 levels, which is in line with national trends, while the number of applications per job opening is significantly higher than in any year of the past five years,” the company reported.
A survey of nearly 2,000 students found that the majority of graduating students in the class of 2025 plan to apply for more jobs than they initially expected.
Student loans are also a major source of stress for graduates, and they’re calling on the federal government to do something about it.
Handshake reports that “63% of students believe this should be a top federal priority, and that number rises to 69% for first-generation students, 70% for women, and 81% for Black students.”
Another interesting point is the upcoming presidential election: Nearly half of those surveyed said the November election will have a “big impact” on their career trajectory.
Despite their misgivings, many of the graduates don’t regret going to college: “More than 80% of this year’s graduates say their college experience contributed significantly to their personal growth and understanding of their career goals,” Handshake says.
