Employers are now so overwhelmed with graduate applications, they don’t look at academic achievements

For graduates entering the job market this autumn, the outlook is challenging. The tech sector, once a major source of jobs, is experiencing a downturn, while other industries are cutting back on both opportunities and salaries.

Job seekers are encouraged to explore a broad range of career paths and gain work experience as early as possible to help differentiate themselves from the competition.

Here are four key trends shaping graduate recruitment this year:

Tech Sector
Unemployment in the U.S. tech industry has been rising, driven by layoffs at larger companies. With lower staff turnover, there are potentially fewer openings, and many new job postings are requiring higher qualifications, including four-year degrees.

“It’s a softer hiring environment for new graduates,” says Tim Herbert, chief research officer at the Computing Technology Industry Association. “When there’s uncertainty, employers become more risk-averse, and employees are less likely to seek new roles or retire.”

Despite this, tech unemployment remains lower than the national average across all sectors, and there’s still significant demand for software developers, cloud computing engineers, and cybersecurity specialists, says Nimmi Patel, head of skills, talent, and diversity at TechUK. “That need won’t disappear.”

Work Experience
According to Matt Sigelman, president of The Burning Glass Institute, more employers are seeking candidates with prior work experience. His analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that job postings for applicants with a bachelor’s degree but no work experience have steadily declined over the past three years. Positions in business, financial operations, computing, mathematics, and management have halved since 2022, while openings in life and physical sciences have dropped by a third. “This underscores the importance of skills,” says Sigelman.

Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, which surveys top recruiters at the Russell Group of leading UK universities, also emphasizes the value of internships and work experience. “Employers are overwhelmed with graduate applications and don’t prioritize academic achievements anymore,” he notes.