In November, the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported that employers plan to hire 7.3% more new graduates from the class of 2025 than they did from the class of 2024. Today, the outlook for new grads looks much more uncertain as federal layoffs, hiring freezes and new tariffs ripple across the economy.
Still, Norma Guerra Gaier, associate vice chancellor for career development and education at Washington University in St. Louis, said that graduating students can take concrete steps to stand out in this competitive job market.
“You can’t control the economy or the national events that are happening today,” Gaier said. “But you can control how you respond. Today, strategy totally matters. It is imperative that students understand the stakes are higher and the competition is higher.”
