After a sluggish stretch, the job market for new college graduates is showing signs of life, The Wall Street Journal writes.
Employers now expect to increase hiring of entry-level workers by 5.6% this spring, reversing earlier pessimistic forecasts.
Unemployment among young degree holders is also falling, and major firms are ramping up recruiting. Still, the rebound comes with caveats: Competition remains intense, some graduates are lowering expectations, and artificial intelligence continues to reshape—and in some cases reduce—traditional entry-level roles.
Candidates with internships or work experience are seeing the strongest outcomes, highlighting a growing emphasis on hands-on skills.
While hiring momentum is improving, the landscape remains uneven, with opportunities expanding in fields like health care and AI while others lag. For employers, the shift reflects a renewed need to rebuild talent pipelines, even as expectations for early-career hires evolve.
