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Most college graduates in the U.S. are jobless after receiving their diploma, according to a study by Kickresume.
Fifty-eight percent of fresh graduates are still looking for their first job after graduation, the data showed, compared to just 25% of the new graduates from previous years.
Meanwhile, “the use of social media for job searching has nearly quadrupled, from just 7% of earlier graduates to 26% of new ones,” said Kickresume CEO Peter Duris.
“With more job searching happening on social media, it’s a good idea to think about how you show up online," he added. "If you’re reaching out to companies or sharing career-related stuff, consider setting up a separate account just for that—somewhere you can post your projects or clips from events. Then keep your personal profile private and just for friends, in case a hiring manager decides to take a peek.”
Despite facing a tougher job market, today’s graduates report higher levels of confidence when entering the workforce than earlier graduates, according to the study.
Other key takeaways…
- Fourteen percent of earlier graduates say much of what they learned now feels outdated, with AI cited as a major reason.
- Resumes continue to be the part of the job-hunting process where graduates, past and present, struggle most.
- Most fresh graduates (77%) expect their working life to be better than their student years, but in hindsight, more than half (51%) of earlier graduates say their student years were better.
- Around 11% of today’s fresh graduates are working part-time, compared to 19% of earlier graduates who worked part-time while studying.
- Freelancing or gig work is equally common, with 9% of today’s fresh graduates and 8% of earlier graduates taking this route.
- About 6% of both groups secured a job through an internship or apprenticeship.
- A small share also chose to take time off to travel or volunteer—4% among today’s fresh graduates and 3% among those who graduated earlier.
“The journey from classroom to career has never been straightforward. But it’s clear that today’s graduates are entering a job market that’s more uncertain, more digital, and arguably more demanding than ever,” Kickresume said in the report. “While the tools have changed, the core struggles haven’t. Gaining experience, crafting a standout resume, understanding job ads—these hurdles remain firmly in place.”
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