- 57% of the Class of 2025 really feel pessimistic about their quick job prospects
- 45% of scholars fear that AI and the present political local weather will negatively impression job availability and safety.
- 54% of scholars say that their pupil mortgage debt is a serious supply of stress.
Because the Class of 2025 embarks on their remaining yr of school, a brand new survey from Handshake reveals a sobering outlook. Key findings from the survey present {that a} vital 57% of this yr’s seniors really feel pessimistic about beginning their careers, with competitors for jobs, pupil mortgage debt, and the rise of generative AI contributing to their considerations. This marks a stark enhance in pessimism in comparison with the Class of 2024, which noticed 49% reporting comparable emotions final yr.
The survey, which included responses from 1,925 college students throughout 521 U.S. schools, highlights the extraordinary pressures dealing with this yr’s graduating school class.
Class Of 2025 Pupil Mortgage Debt
Pupil mortgage debt was highlighted as an enormous concern for the Class of 2025. Greater than half (54%) of the scholars pointed to pupil loans as a big stressor. Solely 46% imagine the quantity of pupil mortgage debt they’ve is manageable.
Once you examine this survey knowledge with our personal Pupil Mortgage Debt Statistics that present that the typical pupil mortgage borrower could have over $37,000 in pupil loans, it may be daunting.
This common month-to-month pupil mortgage fee for 2024 is presently estimated to be $504 per 30 days. Nevertheless, that quantity is skewed due to the excessive variety of debtors in income-driven compensation plans with $0 funds.
Profession Prospects
College students stay hopeful about their long-term profession prospects, however most acknowledge quick challenges. 57% of respondents to the survey really feel pessimistic about their quick job prospects. This anxiousness is exacerbated by a turbulent political local weather and uncertainty in regards to the impression of AI on the job market.
Whereas quick job alternatives appear bleak, a majority of scholars nonetheless imagine their school expertise has outfitted them with the abilities obligatory for private {and professional} progress.
In accordance with the survey, 88% of respondents felt that school contributed considerably to their private improvement, whereas 68% believed it’ll assist them safe a well-paying job.
Nevertheless, many college students are nonetheless taking proactive steps to enhance their job prospects. The survey discovered that 68% of seniors have been attending profession festivals and networking occasions, 63% have been making use of to extra jobs, and 61% have been pursuing internships.
Nevertheless, not all college students are partaking with out there sources: one-third of respondents reported having no expertise with their school profession heart. That is regarding.
Last Ideas
The Class of 2025 is simply the most recent class to face a tricky job market and pupil mortgage debt. This has been an on-going wrestle for faculty graduates for the reason that early 2000s.
Nevertheless, know-how and rising prices are making the identical struggles appear tougher and are permitting them to be extra seen to the general public.
Do not Miss These Different Tales: