Entry-level job market tightens as employers demand experience from new grads
A new Cengage report finds that 77% of US graduates believe employers demand too much experience for entry-level roles, while 75% say truly entry-level jobs are scarce. The survey, conducted from April to August 2026, highlights a widening gap between employer expectations and graduate readiness. Only 37% of graduates feel their education was worth the cost, down from 68% in 2022. Employers increasingly prioritize critical thinking and teamwork, often overlooking candidates without prior work experience. Entry-level hiring in key sectors like tech and finance has dropped 33% to 43% since 2021, exacerbating the struggle for new graduates.