Report Finds Higher Unemployment Rate Among Recent College Graduates

A report released last May by Kickresume examined employment outcomes for recent college graduates. The study compared job placement rates for students who finished school between 2024 and 2025 with those of earlier generations. The data showed that 58 percent of the 2024 and 2025 graduates were still seeking their first job.

In contrast, 25 percent of graduates from previous years experienced similar difficulty.

40 percent of earlier graduates secured full-time positions by the time they received their degrees. The same figure for 2024 and 2025 graduates stood at 12 percent. The report noted that the hiring process now includes additional steps such as personality assessments and informal meetings. Some applicants reported submitting more than 1,700 applications without receiving an interview.

One applicant delivered boxes of donuts containing a resume and LinkedIn profile to potential employers. The approach resulted in at least 10 interviews. Another graduate volunteered at a marketing conference after six months of unsuccessful applications.

During breaks, the individual distributed resumes to attendees and later obtained a position at LinkedIn. The researchers stated that graduates should view their first role as a starting point rather than a permanent commitment. They also observed that the current market features fewer entry-level positions due to automation of routine tasks.