May 11, 2021
The number of postings for entry-level jobs in the United States plunged nearly 68% last year, dashing the dreams of young job seekers across the country. While the drop was clearly driven by the pandemic, in many ways it was a continuation of a trend that began following the last recession, when companies looked to cut costs by reducing the number of low-level positions most suited for workers just starting their careers.
A 2018 analysis of 95,000 job postings found that 61% of “entry-level” positions required at least three years of experience. Today’s graduates are expected to arrive on the job with a range of in-demand skills they would have once developed in the early years of their career. This includes training in technical skills, fluency with data, and other new modes of literacy that are table stakes in an increasingly tech-driven knowledge economy.