It’s the end of the world. Everything we know—or thought we knew—to be true is a lie: the American dream is dead.
It has been drilled into us that to be successful in life, you must go to school, secure good internships, and you will find a well-paying job in your field. Lie.
Go to school, major in something practical, find any internship, and you will eventually find a paying job in your field. Lie
Go to school, get involved in any sort of extracurricular activity to boost your resume, and you’ll find a job.
Lie.
There are no jobs. There is nothing out there for us, regardless of what you studied, where you interned, or even who you know. There is nothing left. The job market has dried up.
Rest in Peace
Let’s first define an entry-level job: An entry-level job is typically a starting role for those who have recently graduated. They don’t require a significant amount of experience, as they are meant to teach and provide the skills and information essential to that career and industry. Under normal circumstances, an entry-level job teaches you what you need to know, thus allowing you to move forward and be able to climb the ladder.
Unfortunately, there has been a time of death called on them. And without the opportunities those beginner roles provide, prospective employees aren’t learning what they need to; no skills means they don’t qualify for most job postings; unqualified individuals do not get jobs.
No entry-level job equals no job period.
The Market and its constant disappointment
The American dream is as follows: work hard, and you will prosper. But I think it’s safe to say the dream has become a nightmare. Recent college graduates are suffering tremendously, despite their best efforts. Since 2023, there has been a 40 percent decline in available jobs, according to Forbes. Are entry-level jobs disappearing? Where have they gone? The class of 2025, especially, is experiencing the brunt of it: the unemployment rate has increased by at least five percent, currently standing at 9.7 percent, the highest rate since 2013. Job applications are still open- though there is a 35 percent decrease in postings since 2023, requiring the classic and grueling cover letter, references, and at least three rounds of interviews, all to be met with the generic “Thank you for your time; however, we have chosen to go in a different direction.”
Only 30 percent of 2025 college graduates were able to find and secure employment in their respective fields. According to the Education Data Initiative, there were 2.168 million graduates in Spring 2025; That’s only 650,400 who have been able to find a job using their degree. How embarrassing. The Class of 2024, while slightly better, had a 41 percent success rate in securing a job in their field.
Again: Are entry-level jobs disappearing? If I had to answer, I would answer yes vehemently. And it’s happening fast.
Is anyone to blame?
This sad deterioration can be chalked up to a few things. The most obvious being technological advancements shrinking the need for real humans in the workforce; AI has overtaken everything. We said that entry-level jobs are disappearing, but the question remains: where are they going?
Enter the newest technology advancement: Artificial Intelligence. While hard-working, passionate young adults are applying to jobs with fervor, companies are swiftly taking the rug out from under them, dusting off their hopes as they go. AI is free. It’s low maintenance compared to a real employee. It completes the small tasks efficiently without human error. It’s disheartening to report, but it has been reported that 60 percent of companies plan to substitute entry-level positions with AI; 50 percent of entry-level jobs may fade entirely away as technology improves.
60 percent of 50 percent of the already 35 percent decrease in job postings, followed by the five percent increase in unemployment this year, after the four percent increase last year, all on the coattails of the 40 percent decrease in available jobs as a whole since 2023.
The job market is failing us. Robbing us from right under our noses. And there is nothing we can do.
An average job posting can get over 500 applications. In no world is every resume submitted being viewed. No one looks special anymore, making it that much harder to secure the role.
Even people in roles they hate or in career paths they despise will not leave their jobs. They know they will not find another position; no one can afford to take a risk like that. So, they end up ‘job hugging.’ Keeping a job they don’t want for fear of what will happen if they quit.
So… what now.
To be blunt, the future is bleak. The numbers aren’t looking good: 30 percent of 2.168 million 2025 graduates being able to land positions is not a very encouraging statistic. 35 percent decrease in job postings, while simultaneously receiving over 500 applications- of which only two percent are selected for interviews- is not attractive.
It’s hard to sit and say, “Just keep going! There’s something for everyone!” because there truly is not. Our failure to secure an entry-level position in our chosen fields is not a reflection of any shortcoming on our part. We did what we were supposed to do, what we were told to do. Entry-level jobs are vanishing, and all we can do is apply, put our best foot forward, and hope that our cover letter is enough to secure a spot among the two percent.
Have you struggled with this issue in your job search? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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