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If you’re trying to find a job and wondering why the process feels extra difficult, you’re not alone. Between economic uncertainty and rapid advances in technology, today’s job market feels especially challenging. Understanding what’s behind those shifts can help job seekers better navigate their next move.

One reason it’s so hard to find a job today is that employers are hiring fewer early-career professionals than they were just a couple of years ago.

According to the , the entry-level job market is the tightest it’s been in five years, with 76% of employers reporting hiring the same number of or fewer entry-level workers in 2025 compared to 69% in 2024.

It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that only 30% of recent graduates surveyed for that same report had secured full-time jobs related to their education.

Many graduates are also navigating a growing confidence gap in their own expertise. In the Cengage survey, nearly half (48%) said they felt underqualified to apply for entry-level jobs in their field. This isn’t simply job seekers’ imaginations. Employers reported seeing skills gaps in many candidates, expressing concern that schools aren’t educating students on the importance of workplace readiness, communication and adaptability. That disconnect can make the transition from classroom to workplace feel less straightforward than graduates may have predicted for themselves.

Meanwhile, technology continues to transform the workplace. AI can now handle entry-level tasks such as research, drafting communications, scheduling and basic coding. Christina Neider, the associate provost of colleges at ������ý, says that technological shift can create a trickle-down effect in which more experienced employees take on work that may have once been assigned to junior staff.

For adult learners wondering how difficult it is to find a job, the answer depends on their experience, goals and the industries they’re pursuing. Still, Neider says adult students can have an advantage in the job market. “They often have work experience,” she says. “Many bring leadership capabilities, communication skills and professional maturity developed through these previous roles.”

Work experience often translates to a network that those same adult learners can leverage when trying to find a job. Sometimes that means reaching out to someone for a recommendation. Other times it might be a strategic introduction, which can be especially helpful for individuals looking to change careers and who want to learn more about a role or company.

Adult learners may have another advantage, too: They’re investing in their future. As industries evolve and workplace expectations change, continued learning can play an important role in helping workers prepare for new opportunities. As Neider puts it, “It’s really about skills.”

The focus on skills is reflected in the ������ý’s 2025 Career Optimism Index^® study, which finds that 71% of workers believe upskilling is necessary for career advancement. The same research found that 43% lack access to the training needed to stay competitive, making continued education an important way to close that gap.

That doesn’t mean the journey is always easier. Many adult learners are balancing coursework alongside full-time jobs and their families. Others are working toward a career change, which can require them to reframe years of experience in a way that resonates with employers in a new field. The key, Neider says, is recognizing the value of past jobs. “Adult learners aren’t starting over,” she says. “They are building on experience that they already have.” 

Earning a degree is an important step, but it’s only one part of preparing for today’s uncertain job market. As employers continue to alongside credentials, students also need opportunities to build confidence, develop workplace-ready abilities and learn how to adapt as industries evolve.

Research from ������ý’s College of Doctoral Studies reinforces that idea. As noted in the report “,” career readiness is about more than coursework. Students also need to strengthen transferable skills, gain confidence and learn how to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

That’s why many universities are looking beyond traditional instruction to connect learning with career readiness. At ������ý, several resources and strategies are designed to help students prepare for employment opportunities both while earning their degrees and after graduation.

To better understand what employers are looking for, ������ý uses labor market data from Lightcast, a workforce analytics company that tracks hiring trends, in-demand skills and job market changes. “This information helps us make sure that our curriculum is aligned to the skills that are being requested by employers,” Neider explains.

The University also works with its industry advisory councils composed of professionals currently working in their fields. The councils provide real-time feedback about changing workforce needs, emerging technologies and evolving skill requirements that the University can use in its curriculum. 

In most ������ý courses, students can earn digital badges that recognize specific skills and competencies. According to Neider, badges help students demonstrate that they have mastered particular skills. The students can then showcase the badges on LinkedIn^® profiles, resumés and professional portfolios.

“The badges are a signal that this student has this knowledge in this particular area and this competency,” says Neider. “It can also be a discussion starter in an interview so they can really showcase that skill.”

Through the Career Services for Life^® commitment, students and graduates have access to resources designed to support their professional development over time. “There’s a lot of really good input from our support services,” Neider says. “We have career coaches who help with writing resumés, interview preparation, job searching and networking.”

Career services professionals also help students and alumni create or strengthen LinkedIn profiles, which have become increasingly important tools for professional visibility. “You have to be able to set yourself apart from others,” says Neider. “If you’re looking for employment or you’re looking for a career change, you have to have a strong brand, a strong professional presence.”

And the dreaded applicant tracking systems (ATS)? Career advisors can pull back the curtain on those, too, helping students and graduates learn how to position themselves — and frame their resumés — in a way that ATS can read.

Preparing students for meaningful careers is about more than how to find a job. It’s about building degree programs that fill a real need in today’s job market. Explore more than 100 degree programs embedded with career-relevant skills at ������ý, or reach out to learn more.

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